POLICE have made 12 arrests following a disturbance near a Thurrock oil refinery.

Eight women and four men aged 19 to 28 are still in police custody on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance following the incident near the Petroplus refinery on The Manorway, Stanford-le-Hope at around 11.20am on Friday.

The arrests happened the day after a protest at the Vopak depot in West Thurock when activists chained themselves to fuel tanks and tried to stop lorries leaving the site on Oliver Road.

The activists were protesting against the use of biofuels made from crops which they believe harms the environment pushes up the price of food in developing countries.

Five people have been charged with wilfully obstructing the highway in connection with Thursday's protests.