A POLICE helicopter and officers have been deployed to Charborough Estate, owned by Tory MP Richard Drax, following a mass trespass protest this morning.

Activists from across Dorset including Extinction Rebellion, Weymouth Animal Rights, North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs and Dorset Against Blood Sports took part in a mass trespass on Richard Drax’s land.

Members of the protest say the demonstration, which comes on the 89th Anniversary of the Kinder Scout trespass, aims to highlight the “injustice of exclusive land ownership”.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We were called at 9.46am on Saturday April 24 to reports of protesters on the land at the Charborough Estate, north of Lytchett Minster.

“We are engaging with the landowner and providing advice and guidance to protesters on the scene.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation.

“The impasse helicopter has been deployed to give us a better understanding of the situation and at the stage, the protest is peaceful and calm.”

However, The Echo understand that the protesters have claimed the police response to be disproportionate to the gathering of protesters.