ACTIVISTS heading to court in Italy today could face fines of up to €240,000 (£220,100) for their actions against a controversial fossil-fuel pipeline.

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the final piece of a 2,200-mile project stretching from Azerbaijan to Italy known as the Southern Gas Corridor, was awarded the biggest-ever European Investment Bank loan – £1.3bn of public money – in 2018.

The environmental group NoTAP Movement, based in the southern region of Salento, the heel of Italy's boot and where the pipeline emerges, has been protesting against the multi-billion-Euro project since 2012.

Ninety-two NoTAP activists and supporters face charges ranging from “unauthorised demonstrations” to stealing the doormat in front of the TAP office.

NoTAP Movement spokesperson Gianluca Maggiore said that the TAP was just "the tip of an iceberg" of "a diseased system based on the unrestrained exploitation of natural and human resources.

"Humanity is crashing into this iceberg of climate change and it is our duty to avoid this disaster for us and future generations," Mr Maggiore said.

"We will face these trials with pride. We have persisted and will continue to do so."