CAMPAIGNERS protested against the expansion of an arms factory, fearing more weapons will be produced on their doorsteps.

Anti-arms activists rallied outside Edo MBM Technology yesterday, chanting “Edo Edo Brighton says you got to go”.

They also called for Brighton and Hove City Council to reverse its decision to allow the factory to have a two storey side extension, which it approved in September.

Edo MBM, in Home Farm Business Park, Emblem House, Brighton, is owned by American technology and defence contractor, the Harris Corporation.

The factory makes aircraft weapon parts for the UK and US military.

Long-time member of Brighton Quakers for Peace, Jane Rosenberg, 71, said: “I have been an anti-arms campaigner for more than 30 years.

“We believe in peace and we oppose the council for allowing Harris Corporation to expand its site.”

Helen Ledger, 64, also a member of Brighton Quakers for Peace, said: “I don’t believe we should be housing a factory that is supporting arms developments.

“I don’t believe the council should have given it permission to expand its premises.

“It’s inappropriate for a place like Brighton, which is considered as a progressive and friendly place in the UK, to have a factory that supplies weapons for war.

“To be honest, I don’t believe any place in the UK should have a weapons factory. We should be ashamed for doing this.”

In 2010, eight campaigners from Smash Edo who were accused of plotting to cause thousands of pounds of damage to the factory were cleared after claiming to be preventing Israeli war crimes.

All had admitted breaking into the factory in the early hours of January 17 2009 and sabotaging equipment which cost about £200,000.

A member of Brighton Against Arms Trade, who goes by the name of Bingo, said: “The arms trade is one of the fundamental problems of the world, along with climate change.

“Millions of people are displaced across the world because of the arms trade.

"The UK should not be supporting any of this. Rather than investing in weapons, we should focus on sustainability projects like making green technology which is beneficial for our planet.”

Fellow member Mavis Hillier said: “The UK should stop arms exports and it should stop fuelling wars in places like Yemen and Syria.”

A council spokesman said: “The Local Planning Authority granted permission for an extension to this commercial building, in accordance with policy.”

Harris Corporation did not respond with a comment.