ENVIRONMENT activists ended their occupation of a 34,000-tonne oil rig today as it arrived in Norway.

But multibillion-pound energy corporation Shell is suing campaign group Greenpeace for more than £100,000 in compensation for costs incurred by the operation, including extra security.

Six activists began their occupation north of the Canary Islands as it was being towed to Haugesund in south-west Norway.

The occupiers boarded the rig from sea-going dinghies in a daring raid on January 31.

In a final stand at 10.30am at Haugesund today, the occupiers climbed the platform’s 125-metre flare boom and waved a banner saying “Stop drilling. Start paying.”

Greenpeace is campaigning for an end to new fossil fuel exploitation and for reparations to be paid for losses caused by climate change.

Shell launched its legal action in Amsterdam just days after announcing a record £32 billion annual profit.

Greenpeace executive director Yeb Sano said: “Shell might think this is the end of our protest, but my message to chief executive Wael Sawan is that this is just the beginning. 

“Thanks to my brave fellow activists we are seeing people connecting the dots between fossil fuel mega profits and the bill for climate loss and damage.

“Shell, and the wider fossil fuel industry, must stop drilling, and start paying. One way or another we will make polluters pay.”

Shell said its decision to sue Greenpeace was “proportionate” and necessary to “protect people and preserve property.”

The occupation lasted 13 days and was Greenpeace’s longest, crossing 4,000km of sea.