HS2 asks government to help it deal with rising number of protests

Boss of high-speed rail line says it is struggling to counter direct action that has cost 75m to date

HS2 has sought support from across government to counter a growing number of protests, as the boss of the high-speed rail project said it was struggling to deal with direct action that had cost it 75m to date.

Mark Thurston, the chief executive of HS2, said violent and disruptive" protests were spreading north and he had urged ministers to use all the agencies of government" to help it.