Protesters shut down 'poshest village in Staffordshire' over claims drone factory supplies Israel

Protesters descended on the UAV factory, Lynn Lane, at 6am this morning and forced road closures until they left around 1.30pm.

Officers from Staffordshire Police spent the morning at Birchbrook Industrial Estate in Shenstone on Wednesday after being deployed there at 6.45am.

Furious residents were forced to drive miles around country lanes, and when one confronted the protesters they were branded "a baby killer."

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It is disgusting. It is not even as if this factory makes weapons, they make drone engines. I was called a baby killer just for remarking how local residents have had their day wrecked."

The Daily Telegraph named Shenstone as the Poshest Village in Staffordshire.

The roads around the estate remained closed all morning, with only limited access to the estate.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said the officers had been working to ensure the safety of all people at the scene, while also balancing the rights to peaceful protest against the rights of those affected by it, with nearby Lynn Lane closed for safety reasons.

The spokesman said: "We are currently at the scene of a protest in Shenstone. Officers were deployed proactively following a call at 6.45am.

"We will ensure the safety of employees, members of the community and protestors at and surrounding the immediate location. We are working to balance the rights to peaceful protest against the rights of those affected by it.

"Lynn Lane has been temporarily closed for safety reasons."

A later update around 11.21am said that part of the estate had been opened up at the estates via Birchbrook Road, but the main road nearby remained closed.

The spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Drivers can now access the Birchbrook Industrial Estate via Birchbrook Road, off Lynn Lane.

"The road between Birchbrook Road and Ashcroft Lane remains closed."