BY DAVID WALSH
13:30 - 04 March 2005

Anarchists are planning to cause chaos in Derby later this month when a summit meeting of high profile politicians takes place.

Members from the ecological campaign group Dissent are set to descend on the city when the G8 summit, a meeting of environment and development ministers, is held at Breadsall Priory Hotel on Thursday, March 17.

As well as taking part in a 'critical mass' bike ride through Derby, the protesters are also vowing to cause mayhem at Breadsall Priory, challenging participants to throw pies at ministers. Derbyshire police have confirmed they are aware of the protest plans and are making their own preparations.

The protest is described on Dissent's website and in a flyer it has released. The bike ride is set to involve cyclists in high numbers passing through Derby's streets in an effort to cause disruption. They are planning to begin their journey at the train station in Midland Road at 10am, according to the website. A 'street party' is also due to take place outside the Assembly Rooms, in Derby's Market Place, at noon.

After that, the anarchists will move on to Breadsall Priory, in Moor Road, Morley. A golf-based 'challenge' has been set up inviting protesters to score a birdie by throwing a pie at a minister or score an eagle by planting a skull-and-crossbones flag in the 18th hole of the hotel's golf course.

Nobody at Dissent was available for comment this morning. The flyer released by the group describes its intentions: "While they talk of relieving poverty in the global south, they uphold a financial system that creates global famine, military repression and social and environmental breakdown. Why should these people be allowed to meet without opposition?"

Derbyshire police confirmed last month that extra security would be put in place. A spokeswoman for the force has now confirmed it will look at security with the protest in mind. A spokeswoman for the Marriott group, which operates Breadsall Priory, said: "We are working with Derbyshire Police Authority to ensure a successful delivery of the event."

The summit takes place on March 17 and the following day and will involve ministers from the G8 countries - the UK, Japan, US, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Russia. They meet regularly to discuss world issues. Ministers will be joined by senior officials from the United Nations, World Bank and European Union environment and development commissioners. Details of attendees are yet to be confirmed, but Derby South MP Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is expected to attend.