Manchester Airport takes action over fears Just Stop Oil activists are poised for a summer of disruption

Manchester Airport bosses have won a High Court injunction in a bid to prevent the 'strong probability' that Just Stop Oil activists will attempt to break onto the airfield, climb on top of planes and glue themselves to the runways to cause a huge summer of travel disruption.

It means it will be possible to speedily jail protesters for contempt of court rather than take action under the Public Order Act or airport bylaws, breaches of which can take time to get through the courts, often result in no more than a fine and which are viewed by some protesters as 'more of a goal than a deterrent'.

Just Stop Oil has promised 'direct action' at airports across the country this summer and last month used an angle grinder to cut a hole in the perimeter fence at Stansted Airport before two planes were spray-painted orange. Manchester Airport bosses fear it could be next and they have now been granted an injunction by a High Court judge.

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It is designed to keep the airport, which at the moment is handling up to 110,000 passengers each day, up and running.

The order signed by Judge Coe KC states: "If you the within defendants or any of you disobey this order or instruct or encourage others to breach this order you may be held to be in contempt of court and may be imprisoned, fined or have your assets seized.

"Any other person who knows of this order and does anything which helps or permits the defendants or persons unknown to breach the terms of this order may also be held in contempt of court and maybe imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized."

The order is made on behalf of Manchester Airport PLC, Stansted Airport Ltd,