POLICING peace protests at RAF Fairford will cost Gloucestershire tax payers £375,000.

The county force says it incurred costs of £1.069 million during the Iraq War, including the drafting in of officers from around the country.

The operation was the biggest in the Gloucestershire Constabulary's history and the cost has been partly offset by a Home Office grant of £694,000.

But the force's application to cover the whole amount was rejected, leaving residents to pick up the remainder.

Assistant Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: "We sought early financial support from central government and did fairly well.

"We are disappointed not to have been fully funded by the Home Office.

We presented a very strong case for further funding and we will continue to discuss this with the Home Secretary."

RAF Fairford was used as a launching pad for bombing raids on Iraq and was home to 14 B-52 bombers during the war.

Police officers from 18 different forces were drafted in as peace protesters set up camp around the base perimeter and staged a series of marches through neighbouring Fairford town centre.

During the largest march, which was attended by TV celebrity Will Self, campaigners were greeted by a mass of fluorescent jackets as 1,000 officers lined the streets and around the main gate.

Officers were given special powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act to stop and search anyone in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, and armed response vehicles were deployed.

Police were drafted in from forces including Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and the Metropolitan area.

Several protesters managed to get over the fence and into the base during the war and a number of arrests were made for offences ranging from criminal damage to possession of drugs.