Timber yards across south Essex shut their doors after lightning demonstrations by Greenpeace activists on Saturday.
Eight members of the environmental pressure group taped off a "crime scene" at Travis Perkins, in Robert Way, Wickford, claiming the retailers were selling illegally harvested Indonesian timber.
Eco protest - Greenpeace members staged a demo at Travis Perkins in Wickford. Picture:TERENCE BUNCH
The eco warriors received a frosty reception from staff - one of them hosing the protesters down with cold water.
Essex Greenpeace co-ordinator, Shaun Qureshi, said: "We all got completely soaked."
The activists claim 88 per cent of Indonesian wood is illegally lumbered and want to pressure Travis Perkins to stop selling timber from the archipelago.
Rival wood traders Jewsons were spared weekend Greenpeace action after agreeing to scrap Indonesian timber and buy from a sustainable source.
A Travis Perkins leaflet says it has a policy to "minimise the extent of environmental damage occurring as a result of its activities," but nobody was available to comment on the Indonesian timber.
Published Monday, June 16, 2003
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