Greenpeace protester Phil Ball has been released in the Netherlands after being charged with trespass.

It was not clear last night when or if he and others have been given a court date, but a Greenpeace spokesman said Mr Ball, pictured, was on his way home.

Mr Ball and other protesters were arrested in Rotterdam on Wednesday when they tried to prevent the first oil from the Arctic coming to the market in Europe.

As one of Greenpeace’s Arctic 30, the 42-year-old from Milton-under-Wychwood was held prisoner by the Russian authorities for 100 days after trying to board a Russian oil platform to protest about drilling in the Arctic last year.

This is the same oil, from the same rig, for which he was arrested last year.