The arrest of two women during an anti-nuclear weapons protest outside a Suffolk RAF base has been decried by activists.

Protestors and activists set up camp at RAF Lakenheath on July 15 to declare the site a nuclear-free zone.

This came after it was revealed in January that the US was reportedly planning to use it to store warheads three times as strong as the Hiroshima bomb.

The group of around a dozen have been trying to deliver a letter to the base commander explaining their aims.

They have all been told not to approach the base beyond a certain line.

Protesters walked 40 miles from Norwich to Lakenheath to demonstrate against the missilesProtesters walked 40 miles from Norwich to Lakenheath to demonstrate against the missiles (Image: Alison Lochhead)

But last Saturday five of them crossed the line and when two of them allegedly did not heed the warnings of Suffolk Police to get back they were arrested.

Angie Zelter and Ginnie Herbert are currently on bail and not allowed within a four-mile radius of the base, the group said.

Activist Alison Lochhead said: “We have been trying to deliver a letter explaining why we are here and why we don’t want nuclear weapons to the base commander but they will not take the letter. It is just rude, plain rude.

“To be arrested for trying to deliver a letter is extraordinary. It is quite extreme.”

Activist Alison Lochhead at a Gaza ceasefire protest Activist Alison Lochhead at a Gaza ceasefire protest (Image: Alison Lochhead)

Activist Sue Wright also criticised the bail conditions and said: “I don’t understand why they can’t just come back here, we are not causing any problems. We just want to get our message through to the Americans.”

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said in response: “Decisions about when to make arrests require consideration of complex and often competing rights and issues.

"These decisions are made by experienced and trained commanders.”

The group will be outside the base until Thursday.