AN 80-year-old Malvern woman opposed to nuclear weapons is expecting a visit from bailiffs after refusing to pay compensation to the Ministry of Defence.

Judith Pritchard, of Frederick Road, was ordered to pay £140 for cutting through a perimeter fence at the Aldermaston nuclear weapons site last May.

She was also fined £150 and given a 12-month conditional discharge for the criminal damage offence.

After the sentence at Newbury Magistrates' Court in October, she said she was happy to pay the fine and abide by the discharge but would refuse to pay the compensation.

This week she was summonsed to appear in front of Worcester magistrates for non-payment. Magistrates granted a distress warrant and told Mrs Pritchard the bailiffs would be in touch.

Her solicitor, Mark Lister, said she would rather face imprisonment than pay up. He said: "She did not pay the court fine because she knows compensation is first."

He said she would resist non-violently any visit by the bailiffs.