Hove MP Ivor Caplin has come under fire for branding anti-war campaigners "yobs".

Hove's Labour MP Ivor Caplin, a junior defence minister, issued the rebuke after battling through a crowd of up to 70 protesters outside a meeting.

Police were on hand to ensure the demonstration was peaceful.

Mr Caplin, who is a member of the League Against Cruel Sports and a vice-chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel, was due to speak to the Left-wing Fabian Society about the future of Brighton and Hove's economy.

But before tackling the subject he launched into an attack on the group gathered outside the Friends Centre in Ship Street who had greeted his arrival with boos and chants of "terrorist".

Society member Geoff Beuret, 64, said: "Before he began he referred to the people outside as yobs and said they were not peace-loving people.

"I saw him barging his way through the crowd as he arrived. He didn't stop and talk to them, which might have been the best thing to do in the circumstances.

"Yobs is an offensive term to use and I was offended by it. It's ironic the peace protesters were classed as yobs when the US and UK see it fit to invade someone else's country."

The demonstrators included members of Hove Action for Peace (HAFP), Sussex Action for Peace (SAFP) and the Socialist Workers' Party.

They met at the Old Steine to protest against George Bush's scheduled visit to London later this month.

Activists in Hallowe'en masks and costumes staged a mock trial of the US President, pelting the Bush and Tony Blair impersonators with rotten vegetables before finding them guilty of war crimes.

A torchlit procession along North Street, West Street and Duke Street was met by police on arrival at the venue in Ship Street. Officers patrolled the perimeter of the building throughout the meeting.

Mr Caplin said his comment had to be taken in context.

He said: "This is a small group of people who are on the extreme end of what one could call peaceful demonstrations.

"I fully support those who want to peacefully demonstrate but this small group of people are crossing the line.

"I don't intend to be intimidated by these people. The meeting proceeded without any problems thanks to the police."

Nyana Joti, 31, a member of Sussex Action for Peace, said: "He needs to think more before he says things. The majority of the people there just wanted to talk to him."

Report by Simon Flacks and Vanessa Coutts