Greenpeace volunteers will be campaigning in Southampton on Saturday in support of the 28 activists and two freelance journalists who have been seized by the Russian authorities and charged with piracy.

Greenpeace says the 'Arctic 30' are facing two months behind bars in Russia for a peaceful protest against dangerous oil drilling.

"They took action on September 18 at the giant Prirazlomnaya oil rig, where Gazprom intends to become the first company to pump oil from icy Arctic waters.

"Over a day later the ship was illegally boarded by armed special forces, before being towed to Murmansk," says Greenpeace.

Volunteers will be collecting messages of support in Southampton city centre, as well as in Newport on the Isle of Wight, to send to the thirty in Russia on white paper doves.