PEACE protesters demonstrated outside the High Court before launching a challenge to a ruling that the police acted lawfully when officers blocked their bid to attend an anti-war demonstration.

More than 120 people from two coaches were searched, detained, and forcibly returned to London with a huge police escort when they attempted to reach the demonstration against the war in Iraq at RAF Fairford air base in March last year.

The High Court ruled earlier this year that the police had acted unlawfully and breached their human rights by detaining them in the coaches on the journey back to the capital.

But the court also ruled that it was not unlawful for the police to turn the passengers away from the demonstration.

The protesters say the ruling threatens civil rights as it means that any group of people could be turned away from a demonstration based solely on the view of a senior police officer as to whether they were likely to become involved in a breach of the peace.

Lawyers for the passengers argued in the Court of Appeal yesterday that the police actions in turning them away were contrary to the common law and violated their freedom of expression and assembly under the Human Rights Act.

Despite the pouring rain, members of Fairford Coach Action a group of more than 80 passengers who have decided to pursue the case against police actions gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice handing out leaflets.

The detained coach passengers said they are prepared to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights if the "UK courts fail to uphold their human rights".

Michael Fordham, counsel for demonstrator Jane Laporte, from Woodlands Park Road, Tottenham, north London, said case was about the "legality or otherwise" of the actions of Gloucestershire Police.

The appeal was due to continue today.

Tamsin Davis