Monday, June 7, 1999 Published at 12:52 GMT 13:52 UK
Police probe GM crops damage
An inquiry has begun into alleged GM crops damage
Police are investigating damage to a crop of genetically-modified oil seed rape in the north east of Scotland.
Officers were called to Tillycorthie Farm, part of the Scottish Agricultural College at Udny, near Aberdeen.
A group of 10 environmental activists say they carried out the destruction of a 100 sq yd patch of the genetically-modified rape.
The Scottish Agriculture College said the attack is a major setback for its research.
A spokeswoman said the college is in its third year of trials to engineer crops which require less fertiliser and the attack will delay any eventual research findings.
It is the second attack on oil seed rape crops at the college in just over a year. On the previous occasion, intruders left a 200m cross in a crop.
Grampian Police said it has started an investigation after officers were called to the farm on Monday morning.
Insp David Allan, who is co-ordinating the inquiry, said the farm is in a remote area but he still hopes witnesses can be found.
"Although the farm is on a fairly quiet road, we hope that someone may have seen suspicious activity in the area in recent days and we would ask them to contact us as soon as possible," he said.