THREE British arms factories owned by subsidiaries of Israel’s Elbit Systems were closed down yesterday as hundreds of pro-Palestinian campaigners occupied the Staffordshire and Kent sites.

On the first anniversary of the 2014 Gaza attacks, activists and local residents took over the UAV Engines drone factory in Shenstone, Staffordshire, nearby Elite KL and optical sensors maker Instro Precision in Broadstairs, Kent.

The sites were patrolled by local police, but a blockade at Shenstone lead to confrontations between officers and activists.