Protest group Smash EDO has issued a call to new students to the city.

The campaigning group, which stages a noise demonstration outside the EDO/ ITT factory in Moulsecoomb between 4pm and 6pm every Wednesday, wants students at Brighton's two universities to join them. Smash EDO claims the company is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people because it produces parts for fighter planes.

Yesterday a spokeswoman said that a number of students at the University of Sussex and University of Brighton, who started term this week, had already approached them and were keen to join their anti-arms cause.

The spokeswoman, who said the campaigning group did not have any plans to stage mass demonstrations in Brighton and Hove this year, said: "We would love the students to join us and come along.

"I think a lot of people who come to universities in Brighton and especially the University of Sussex will be aware of its radical history. Meanwhile students at the University of Brighton will be located right across from the factory.

"We want to get the message out there that the factory is there and students are welcome to join us."

She said that Smash EDO would be leafleting around the universities campuses and talking to students about what their aims are.

Smash EDO has announced it will be organising a Summer of Resistance in 2012 with events taking place across the city in opposition to the work of the factory. As yet it has not confirmed specific events.