HUNDREDS of climate campaigners have descended on a field by one of Britain's biggest power stations to demonstrates against the emissions they claim cause global warming.

The ten-day Camp for Climate Action is targeting the giant Drax power plant near Selby, North Yorkshire - and the eco-warriors have vowed to break the law and ignore a legal injunction designed to keep them from the site.

One protester, Foye Hatton, 28, of London, said: "On Thursday the plan is through mass civil disobedience to close down Drax power station. People also will form small groups who go off and do other actions in the build-up to the big day."

Another, Richard Lane, 28, from York, said: "We know we are not going to make a difference to the UK emissions with this action but the fact is that we all know global warming is a disaster looming down on us."

On the first day of the demo there was a heavy police presence on the roads around the camp and some officers were photographing anyone who entering it.

However inside there was a festival atmosphere with the field split into "neighbourhoods" of activists who held group meetings to decide how their section would be run.

Police are understood to have cancelled new requests for leave in order to cope should a confrontation happen and other officers are being drafted in from other forces.

Drax supplies seven per cent of Britain's electricity and has warned that any shutdown could destabilise the National Grid and lead to power cuts.

And earlier this month, plant bosses obtained a court injunction banning protesters from the site.

In a statement police said they were working with partner agencies to keep the situation under control.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian McPherson said: "We aim to provide reassurance by promoting safety, maintaining order and reducing the fear of crime.

"We also aim to minimise disruption to local communities, residents and businesses by maintaining the local neighbourhood policing service."

He added: "We will facilitate lawful and peaceful protest but criminality or disorder will be dealt with swiftly and firmly