POLICE were on standby ahead of today's planned day of action by anti-climate change protesters.

Chief Inspector Barry Smith, leading patrols at the Camp For Climate Action outside Drax Power Station yesterday, said police were prepared for any disorder.

He said: "There are officers available if the need arises, but everything will stay at a peaceful level until people act otherwise."

A co-ordinated force involved teams from North Yorkshire, Humberside, South and West Yorkshire to cover the region around all the area's power stations.

The effort was helped by officers with special expertise in dealing with large public events from Hampshire, Northumbria and the Metropolitan Police.

Climate change activists were not giving details of their plans yesterday but said it was a group decision which involved all those at the camp.

Speculation was mounting among local people that any of the power stations in the area could be the target of protesters wanting to organise a shut down today.

One of the campaigners Alex Harvey, 27, from London, said: "There was a need for a new moment in the climate campaign - in which the various groups and concerned individuals came together not only to talk about things but also to take direct action.

"Government is not taking the issue of climate change seriously and we cannot wait for them to tell us what to do."

Police said they had maintained a friendly relationship with protesters since they arrived on Saturday but yesterday searches began of people coming into or leaving the camp.

Chief Insp Smith said: "We are not searching everybody, just selecting individuals to be searched.

"We are specifically looking for offensive weapons and other prohibited items, such as articles which might cause criminal damage."

Legal representatives among the protesters accompanied any police who actually wanted to patrol the camp.

Ms Harvey said: "The relationship with the police started off being exceptionally friendly but that relationship has unfortunately got slightly less friendly as time has gone by."

Campaigners, many of them mums with young children who were taking part in education workshops, were not happy about being searched while taking part in legitimate protest.

About 500 protesters were estimated to be at the camp yesterday with organisers predicting that up to 1,000 more would arrive before today's action.

Police had a traffic management plan prepared and were working with British Transport Police to ensure people's safety and to minimise the impact on villages around Drax, according to Chief Insp Smith.

Campaigners said they were also concerned about ensuring the safety of all those involved.

Ms Harvey added: "Everyone is hoping for a peaceful protest and it would be a real shame if anything the police did caused confrontation to happen."