Cyclists were gathering at Brighton Station today to protest against a bicycle ban on Southern's rush-hour trains.

Passengers travelling between London and Brighton on trains due to arrive between 7am and 10am and leaving between 4pm and 7pm will no longer be able to take their bikes.

The ban is being enforced because the new train carriages do not provide as much space as the older slam-door rolling stock and because of the high numbers of passengers using the trains during peak times.

But campaigners are optimistic train bosses might be willing to review their decision if public pressure is maintained.

An organisation called the The Cycle Train Commuters Group has set up a web site dedicated to persuading Southern to rethink the ban, www.ctcg.org.uk.

Cyclist Richard Bates, a Mid-Sussex district councillor, has called for decommissioned carriages to be brought back into service as bike wagons, which could also be used for special events such as the London to Brighton Ride.

Brighton and Hove City Councillor Craig Turton, who was attending today's demonstration with Hove and Portslade MP Celia Barlow, said: "Southern has completely underestimated the strength of feeling about its cycle ban which will deter people from using sustainable forms of transport."

Lewes MP Norman Baker has also thrown his weight behind the campaign.

A spokesman for Southern, which operates from the Sussex coast to London Victoria, said: "It is not a new ban. We are simply enforcing a policy which has been in place for many years but was lightly enforced in the past.

"The new trains offer a limited amount of space for bicycles during the peak periods."

A "limited number" of bikes will be allowed on trains at all other times and folded bicycles will be welcome on all services.

Protesters were assembling on Brighton station concourse between 7.30am and 8.30am.