PROTESTORS at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station are trying to pull down fencing and enter the site.

Police have this afternoon made more arrests at the two-day climate change protest. They say they have also been forced to close the A453.

So far, 52 people have been arrested in total.

Three police officers have also been injured in clashes with climate change protestors.

One policeman was airlifted to the Royal Derby Hospital after he collapsed with suspected head injuries.

He has since been allowed home and is said to be making good progress.

Two other officers were taken to Nottingham’s Queen's Medical Centre for treatment for minor injuries. They have also been released.

At a press conference this morning, Chief Inspector Linda McCarthy from Nottinghamshire police, said that a figure of 80 arrests given yesterday was incorrect.

She said: "I just want to clarify the situation around those arrested, the were 52 people arrested for a variety of offences, not 80 as was given as an estimate figure last night.

"I'm sure you will appreciate the speed at which we were trying to give information throughout the day yesterday. But 52 is the correct figure.

"There has been reports of some protestors receiving dog bites and other injuries as a result of a concerted effort to pull down fences and enter the site.

"Of course this is regrettable but it is a combination of reckless behaviour by some of the protestors and us having to respond with a different style of policing.”

Earlier, a spokesman for Notts Police said one protestor had been injured.

He said: "Despite work to engage with protestors they made concerted attempts to tear down perimeter fencing.

"This required officers to change their policing style which has resulted in more arrests and potential prosecutions.

"Officers will remain at the power station for as long as necessary."

Those held were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences, including conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass, aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

More than 1,000 demonstrators descended on the coal-powered station, owned by E.On, during the day on Saturday.

A number of them appeared to have made a hole in the perimeter fence and tried to get through a hole.

A wall of up to 40 police officers filled the ten metre gap.

Police dogs were used to guard the fence.

Some protesters carried banners and cardboard gravestones bearing the words 'RIP E.ON' and 'RIP Ratcliffe'.

A number of the demonstrators protested peacefully at the entrance to the station. At least 20 people from Derby, including members of the Derby Campaign Against Climate Change, were at the power station.

Police said breakaway groups managed to gain access to the site.

An 11-year-old girl, Maya Blinkhorn, from Brighton, stood on top of a two metre high fence with her father Duncan, 48.

She said: "It's exciting to come up here. It's not good they are burning so much coal."

The A453 was closed by police between junction 24 of the M1 and the A52 at around 12.30pm on Saturday and was later reopened.

At 2pm yesterday, Chief Inspector Linda McCarthy from Nottinghamshire police, said officers had been assaulted and the protest had gone from peaceful to non-peaceful .

She added the police response would be stepped up proportionately.

One male officer was seen being taken into an ambulance at around 4.30pm after he collapsed from what seemed to be a fit.

Protest organisers earlier had said one of their aims was to try to take over the power station.

Protestor Richard Bernard, from group Climate Camp, said people were there to show that "coal has no future."

He said: "Ratcliffe-on-Soar emits more CO2 every year than Costa Rica - and that is just one power station."

Members of Climate Camp for Action - also known as Climate Camp, Climate Rush and Plane Stupid were coordinating the so-called "Climate Swoop".

E.On spokesman Andrew Barrow said the company was "disappointed" by the protest.

He said: "We were saying all along that this was designed to break into the power station. It's really sad that we were proved right.

"It's sad that what could have been a peaceful protest to get their message across has been ruined by these un-thinking people who have not only put themselves in harm's way but police officers as well."

He added E.On were keen to enter into a debate on renewable energy and was set to close two coal fired power stations within the next six years.

A 21-year-old man from Leeds was arrested on Wednesday at 8.10pm on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

He was bailed to return to the police station at 1pm today – the exact time of the planned "swoop" on the coal-fired power station.

Power station owners E.on warned it was dangerous to try to shut it down. It promised power supplies would not be affected.