One of the Greenpeace demonstrators climbing the Shard building (Reuters)
One of the Greenpeace demonstrators climbing the Shard building (Reuters)

The six Greenpeace protesters who scaled the Shard in London in protest at Shell's Arctic drilling have been charged with aggravated trespassing.

Alison Garrigan, 27, from Greater Manchester has been charged with aggravated trespass following the stunt in July. She will appear at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on 29 August to face the charges.

The five other women - Victoria Henry, 32, Wiola Smul, 23, Sabine Huyghe, 33, Sandra Lamborn, 29, and Liesbeth Deddens, 31 - all admitted the charges and accepted a police caution.

The women spent 15 hours climbing the 310m (1,016ft) building as part of a protest against Shell's plans to drill in the Arctic.

Police said it would have been too dangerous to go after the women up the side of the building. They were arrested once they finished the climb.

The viewing platform was closed as a result of the stunt, which also gained support from celebrities such as Annie Lennox and Ewan McGregor as well as the hundreds of onlookers who gathered to watch the slow ascent live.

Greenpeace also ran a live-video of the climb shot from the women's helmets.