This week marks the 25th anniversary of the start of what would become one of the country's most high profile protest movements of all time. On September 5, 1981, a small group of women set up camp at the Greenham Common airbase in Berkshire - the start of an anti-cruise missile campaign that would last for nearly 20 years. Ben Spragg spoke to two Stroud activists who took part in the blockades and demonstrations that came to define an era.

IT was the UK Government's decision to allow the American airforce to store nuclear cruise missiles at Greenham Common that sparked the protest.

But when the original 36 women walked 100-miles from Cardiff to start the camp in September, 1981, they could never have imagined that it would soon become one of the most protracted campaigns of the 20th Century.

The demonstrations, which took place at the height of the Cold War, quickly grew, and at one point 50,000 women from as far a field as Australia and New Zealand joined hands and encircled the base.

Although some men offered practical help, delivering firewood and other supplies, the vast majority of protesters were female, and they had strong support in Stroud.

Some weeks, as many as six coachloads of campaigners would leave the Five Valleys to join the fight to force the US to withdraw its weapons.

Tactics included lying in front of military lorries and decorating the perimeter fence with paper doves.

On one occasion five-miles of fencing was cut down there were hundreds of arrests over the years.

Heulwen Griffiths, now 71, of Ollney Road, Minchinhampton, visited on many occasions during the early 1980s.

"We saw the bullying tactics by bailiffs as they stamped out fires, moved everything and pulled down tents," said Heulwen, who taught at Gastrell's School before retiring.

"We helped the women gather up their things and start again."

Like many others, Heulwen was not deterred by the threat of prison or eviction from the site and took part in blockades to try and prevent missiles arriving.

"We would be told by a campaign group called Cruise Watch that the convoys were coming and would then demonstrate with banners just to let them know that what they were doing wasn't a secret," she said.

"What we did was always peaceful though.

"Sometimes when the message came through that a convoy was on its way campaigners from all over the country would rush to the site, often in the early hours.

"I saw a lot of blockades and was involved in creating human barriers to stop the arrival of more weaponry.

"By stationing the weapons there we were being made a target, we felt Britain was being used by the Americans and it still is, look at RAF Fairford, bombers were stationed there and used in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Carol Kambites, now 57 and a Green town councillor for Stroud, was also involved.

"I didn't actually live there but I had great admiration for those who did because it wasn't easy," said Carol, who was present when the women surrounded the base in a show of strength.

"It was amazing, women from all over the country were involved and some from Australia and New Zealand joined the demonstration," said Carol, who works for the University of Gloucestershire.

But did the camp have any impact at a political level and, 25 years on, what is its lasting legacy?

"It did have an impact on politicians, although they never admitted it and the effect wasn't immediate," said Carol, of Stratford Road, Stroud.

"It also started the whole idea of peace camps at military bases."

The women claimed a victory when the 96 missiles were eventually removed - the last was flown back to the US in 1991.

But the camp endured until 2000 to ensure the site remained free of US weapons.

RAF Greenham Common was eventually closed and the land passed over to the local authorities.

The thousands of women who stood up to a superpower had won their long battle - and 25 years on they can look back with pride.