Dundrennan depleted uranium protest staged

The last DU tests were carried out at Dundrennan five years ago

Campaigners have held a "mass walk-on" at the Dundrennan range in protest at the test firing of depleted uranium (DU) weapons into the Solway Firth.

It was part of an international day of action and followed concerns about serious health issues resulting from the use of such weapons in war zones.

The last DU tests at the south of Scotland range were in 2008.

Earlier this year the Ministry of Defence said it had no plans to restart firing in the area.

One of the campaigners, Rachel Thompson, said the protest had been well supported from across Scotland and beyond.

"We have found that depleted uranium is one of those issues people really do care about," she said.

"They knew when they started that Scottish people did not want this to happen."

She said the protest wanted to make the link between that objection and the consequences of the use of such weapons in Iraq.

A MoD spokesperson said: "There are no plans for any test firing of depleted uranium rounds at the Kirkcudbright Range in Dundrennan.

"All testing is in accordance with procedures agreed with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency."