Manchester Airport runway protest saw activists dig maze of 'cakehole' and 'worm' tunnels deep underground
Environmental protests to highlight climate change have seen motorways blockaded by protestors lying in the road and soup thrown over a priceless Van Gogh in an art gallery.
Read More:Manchester 'mole gang' dug 100ft tunnel under car park to raid Blockbuster Video cash machineWhile many of the campaigners took to occupying trees on the proposed site, four activists burrowed underground in a hand-built tunnel dubbed the 'cakehole'. The tunnel was believed to be one of the most complex built at a protest, with campaigners claiming it went 50ft deep and its defences included bolted boilerplate doors.
Daily Mirror photographer, Frank Parker, was reportedly the first outsider to enter the tunnels. Describing them, he told The Mirror: "It's like being buried alive. It's very difficult to move, extremely claustrophobic and takes about 10 minutes to reach the end. Using head torches and candles to illuminate their subterranean world, protestors continued to hole in as an eviction began above ground with digging operations by bailiffs. By May 31, 1997, four months after the activists occupied the site, the Daily Mirror reported there were 30 protestors still in the camp, which consisted of "seven treehouses and four tunnels".
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