as I'm concerned."

Mrs Mitchell, leader of St Aidan's Peace Church in Berwick, believes the Government is wasting billions of pounds on nuclear submarines in Glasgow, a city with seriously deprived areas.

She said: "I cannot understand how people can say they are Christian and then make weapons that kill people.

"When I was young, I realised I had to choose between giving up my faith and becoming a Christian pacifist."

Protesters are planning to remain at the base until tomorrow.

Trident Ploughshares' Tyneside co-ordinator, Andrew Gray, said: "Our aim is to stop work at the base for three days as a symbol of our disapprovement that weapons of mass destruction are kept by our Government."

More than 500 people have been arrested in two blockades at the Faslane base in the past year.works for years. It has been promoted by supporters as a way to boost bi-national ties and economic development.

But it has also faced opposition from some in Tijuana, including the mayor. He says the benefits to Tijuana are unclear. The project's main goal is to shuttle people between the Tijuana airport directly to the city of San Diego. Tijuana taxi drivers have also opposed the project, fearing they will lose much of their business driving travelers between the airport and existing border crossings.