London  - At least 80 protestors were arrested Saturday during a protest aimed at shutting down the coal-fired electricity works of the British subsidiary of the German energy company Eon.

British media reports said three police officers were injured in clashes with the demonstrators as they tried to enter the grounds of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant near Nottingham.

More than 1,000 environmental protestors remained at the plant as darkness fell, and police were to keep watch through the night, a spokesman said.

Those arrested were trying to break through the fence around the electric plant. The environmentalists are demanding that the plant, reportedly one of the highest carbon emitters in Britain, be shut down.

Emily Highmore of Eon said the company is trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but noted that shutting down plants because they're not popular is not the solution to providing electricity, BBC reported.

Another spokesman of the British subsidiary said that the Ratcliffe plant plays a key role in providing electricity to millions of households in the region. Money was being invested in improving the emissions.

The threat of global warming is blamed on the massive increase of carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. (dpa)