A minister has admitted misleading parliament over the number of police injured at the summer's Climate Camp protest in Medway.

Police minister Vernon Coaker today apologised for telling MPs that 70 officers were injured dealing with the protests at Lodge Hill Farm, Hoo and at the nearby Kingsnorth Power Station.

Speaking to the House of Commons, he said: "

He said: "I was informed that 70 police officers were hurt and naturally assumed that they had been hurt in direct contact as a result of the protest.

"That clearly wasn't the case and I apologise if that caused anybody to be misled."

Kent Police assistant chief constable Allyn Thomas said: "Considering the scale of this operation, which involved around 1,400 officers and staff, the very small number of injuries sustained by officers is actually very positive news.

"Officers are duty-bound to report any injuries or illnesses while they are working so all ailments, however minor, will have been recorded in a basic format for this purpose.

"We consider it a measure of the success of the whole policing operation that so few injuries were sustained, both by officers and protesters, and that none

were serious or major."

Kent Police also confirmed there were 12 recorded injuries to officers which

required them to retire from duty.

None was serious enough to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive, a

police spokesman said.

The spokesman said: "In total, approximately 68 officers were treated for

injuries or illnesses by the Kent Police tactical medicine unit and the Red Cross.

"In addition, teams of officers from other forces brought their own first aid support who would have also dealt with injuries and injuries.

"Other than the 12 who had to retire from duty, the remaining officers with injuries or ailments did not need to do so."

The minster's comments came after it was revealed that of the estimated 1,500 officers policing the Kingsnorth protest in August, only 12 suffered reportable injuries.

The data was obtained by the Liberal Democrats via under the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the report, injuries reported included a wasp sting, heat stroke and insect bites.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth added:

"The threat posed by environmental direct action is being systematically overblown by both the Government and the police.

"I hope that ministers and the police will now stop trying to portray peaceful protestors as somehow equivalent to terrorists or violent extremists.

"In light of this new evidence, it has to be asked whether climate campers were so heavily policed because they posed any genuine threat of violence, or because they posed a challenge to government policy?"