Greenpeace has managed to block a Scottish company drilling for oil off the Greenland coast.

On Tuesday, four activists climbed onto an oil rig, fastening themselves to steel stanchions.

The breach triggered an automatic shutdown of the rig, owned by Scotland-based Cairn Energy.

Authorities in Greenland have said the activists will be prosecuted for breaking the law.

Since the breach, police have been monitoring the activists from a Danish navy ship patrolling the area.

Last week the Greenpeace ship Esperanza anchored near the rig as part of a campaign to protest deepwater oil drilling in the area.

Greenpeace has said it is worried that an oil rush or leak will damage the region’s fragile ecosystem.