The Stansted 15 terrorism trial restarted this morning (Monday, October 1) and has drawn a crowd of protesters outside Chelmsford Crown Court.

Reporter Sophie Finnegan from our partner website Essex Live is at court.

On March 28, 2017, 15 anti-deportation protesters, known as the ‘Stansted 15’, allegedly blocked a chartered plane due to deport asylum seekers and other migrants back to Nigeria and Ghana.

Police were called to the scene and the group were arrested.

They were charged with obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity or organising or taking part in a demonstration likely to interfere or obstruct Stansted Airport. Members also stand trial charged with terror offences under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act.

The defendants are: Emma Hughes, 26, Melanie Evans, 33, and May McKeith, 31, all of Leytonstone, Melanie Stickland, 34, of Walthamstow and Lyndsay Burtonshaw, 34, of no fixed abode.

Also charged are: Laura Clayston, 26, of Greenwich, Helen Brewer, 27, of Hackney, Ruth Potts, 42, of Briston, Norfolk and Jyoysna Ram, of Haringey.

Edward Thacker, 27, of Hackney, and Nicholas Sigsworth, 27, from Leystone are also due in court with Alistair Tamlit, 28, from London and Benjamine Metters, 26, of Haringey.

Finally Nathan Clack, 28, from Lambeth, and Joseph McGahan of Leystone, have also been charged.

The trial is due to restart this morning at Chelmsford Crown Court, with around 100 people already outside the court by 9am.