Over 20 held in demo at nuclear weapons site

ALDERMASTON, England (Reuters) - More than 20 protesters were arrested on Monday after hundreds of demonstrators tried to blockade a nuclear weapons establishment, police said.

Around 400 demonstrators gathered just before 7 a.m. at entrances to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston, about 50 miles west of London, in a bid to stop work on the site.

Demonstrators sat down and some glued themselves together as part of a protest against the Trident submarine-based nuclear weapons programme, and to call for an end to plans to replace the system.

The government said last year it would delay a decision on replacing Trident until later this year.

Among those attending the demonstration were Catholic and Anglican bishops and Nobel Peace laureates Mairead Maguire and Jody Williams, said the demo's organiser Trident Ploughshares.

"At a time of economic crisis it is scandalous that billions of pounds are being squandered on new facilities at Aldermaston," said Kate Hudson, chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament which backed the protest.

Thames Valley Police said 26 people had been arrested, most for obstructing the highway.

"The vast majority of protestors were peaceful and we would like to express our thanks to them for their cooperation and consideration throughout the day," said Chief Inspector Judith Johnson.

"However a small minority seemed intent on causing problems."

AWE, which provides and maintains the Trident warheads, said the site had operated as normal despite the protest.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison)