Passers-by were urged to pour their hearts out at the inaugural session of a new speaker's corner.

Public speeches will take place at The Level, Brighton, on the last Saturday of every month.

The meetings were launched at the weekend by Radio West Pier, an internet comedy show that claims to be recorded under Brighton's West Pier. Standing on a metal box, he said he found in a squat on the seafront, radio presenter Matt Whistler declared a "People's Independent Comedy Republic" in which there were no taxes on humour.

The 34-year-old of Goldstone Road in Hove said he had ordered 1,000 flippers so members of the public could swim to visit the radio shack.

Dressed in a brown velvet hat and Seventies embroidered jacket, he encouraged others to get up and shout through the megaphone. One woman complained about the police presence at the event, which was being monitored by several officers at the other side of The Level.

Another advertised breast-feeding awareness.

Mr Whistler said: "We did it for an hour. In that time, we had about ten people. I was very pleased."

The next is on Saturday, February 24 from 1pm. Radio West Pier is presented by Mr Whistler and Rico Mortis. Hear it at www.myspace.com/radiowestpier.