Fathers' rights Sandringham protest foiled

Police foiled a fathers’ rights protest in Britain aimed at disrupting the Queen’s Christmas church service today.

Eight men were arrested near the Sandringham estate as the Fathers 4 Justice campaign group announced they intended to scale St Mary Magdalene’s Church which the Royal Family traditionally attend.

The Queen, who attended church as normal, was told about the incident.

The men, carrying ladders, were intercepted on the approach road to the church, a Norfolk Police source said.

“There was some kind of distraction at one entrance to the estate while the main body of people involved in the stunt was at another entrance,” said the source.

“That’s the usual tactic and they were arrested before they got anywhere near the church. I don’t know how far away but hundreds of yards at least.

“Fathers 4 Justice have said publicly that they would continue their campaign over Christmas so you can take it for granted that we were aware of the possibility that they might try something.”

A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said later: “Eight men were arrested at around 8am this morning in relation to breach of the peace offences.

“They have been taken to a police station in Norfolk for questioning.

“We are keen to stress that there has been no breach of security on the Sandringham Estate today.

“They were arrested on the periphery of the estate.

“As far as we are concerned, the policing operation has done its job.”