GREENPEACE activists pledged to continue with the disruption of oil exploration vessels in the Atlantic Frontier following the arrest of five members yesterday in Ullapool.

Four men and a women were taken off the 93m Norwegian oil exploration vessel Atlantic Explorer which was berthed at the harbour.

They were charged and a report was sent to the procurator fiscal in Dingwall.

Police moved in yesterday morning after two protesters climbed the crane of the ship- which is due to carry out seismic testing in the Atlantic for oil company Conoco - and strung up banners saying "No new oil" and "Hands off the Atlantic Front".

Greenpeace spokesman Chris Rose said last night: "We held the oil exploration process up for 17 hours and that is the main thing."

"Greenpeace is committed to stopping oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier and it is a great shame that Conoco refuses to listen to the strength of the argument we put before them."

As part of the same campaign, Greenpeace supporters have been occupying the isolated rock outcrop of Rockall, nearly 300 miles off the West Coast, for 23 days.