London: A British environmental campaigner was on Saturday quoted as saying that undercover police had tried to recruit her as an informant.

Matilda Gifford, 24, said a series of meetings took place after she was arrested following a Plane Stupid demonstration at Aberdeen Airport in March.

She said money was mentioned with the officers, who said they were from Strathclyde Police, in exchange for information on the dynamics of the protest group and its plans.

No actual amount was mentioned, but there were hints it could help with her student loans, Gifford said.

She said "fear tactics" were also used, included warnings that her protest activities might damage her future employment prospects. Gifford secretly taped the conversations before handing them to the Guardian newspaper, which published a story in its Saturday edition.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton, Strathclyde Police, said in a statement that his force had "a responsibility to gather intelligence" to make communities safer.

"Officers from Strathclyde Police have been in contact with a number of protesters who were involved with the Plane Stupid protests including Aberdeen Airport," he said.

"The purpose of this contact has been to ensure that any future protest activity is carried out within the law and in a manner which respects the rights of all concerned."

She later told BBC radio: "It's not just gathering information, this is trying to influence me, dissuade me."

"Part of the reason I recorded this conversation is that I know that other members of Plane Stupid have been contacted over the last few months and similar tactics have been used, and a lot of them have been intimidating."

Former Scotland Yard Commander John O'Connor said the story was "a storm in a teacup."

"This girl has got hold of details of an approach made to her which in police terms is what's called cultivating a potential informant," he told BBC radio.

When asked if it was normal police practice to make contact with protest groups, he said "of course."

"That is what the police do. They go out actively to try and gather it [intelligence]."