ENVIRONMENTALISTS gathered outside a Runcorn firm's site to protest against controversial plans to build an aluminium smelting plant in Iceland.

Protesters travelled from throughout Europe to block the entrance to Kawneer Europe on the Astmoor Industrial Estate on Tuesday.

They chained themselves together and laid down in front of the main entrance.

The group was protesting against plans by Kawneer's parent company Alcoa to build massive hydroelectric dams in Iceland to power a huge aluminium smelting plant.

They say the project will destroy the natural habitat of many rare and endangered plants and animals.

A spokeswoman for the protesters said: 'One of the main arguments for the dam is that hydropower is ecofriendly.

'Yet the reservoirs would submerge vegetation which in turn would rot and contribute to greenhouse gases.

'We are here today to let Kawneer and Alcoa know that we are prepared to stand against them.'