Campaigners are demanding a public apology after claiming they were banned from taking photos in a busy high street.

A handful of protesters were holding a demo in Worthing when they claim they were approached by town centre wardens who said they were not allowed to take pictures in public.

The group were photographing CCTV cameras in what was described as a "tongue in cheek" protest marking the 12th anniversary of CCTV in Worthing.

But the event turned sour when the protesters clashed with the wardens, funded by the town's Shopwatch scheme.

Sharon Clarke, town centre manager, has denied the claims.

She said the photographers were asked not to take close-up photos of another group using the area, who had become distressed.

Dave Phillips, who runs Worthing's Porkbolter newsletter, said: "It was all very light-hearted and easy-going until we reached Holder's Corner in Montague Street. These wardens came storming over to tell us we weren't allowed to take photos in a public place.

"They wouldn't tell us what law this was supposed to be under and they wouldn't give us their names - we also noticed they did not have any visible identification in the way police do.

"None of us could believe what was happening and one of our group was so outraged he picked up the megaphone and started telling all the shoppers around what was going on.

"They didn't like that and one of the wardens actually grabbed the megaphone and tried to pull it away from him - we've got all that on video.

"It took a while afterwards for the seriousness of all this to sink in.

"How can it be against the law to take photographs in Worthing town centre?

"We are demanding at the very least a public apology and a clear statement that it is perfectly legal to take photographs in public places in Worthing.

"Otherwise we are going to look at ways of taking this further."

The law says anybody can take pictures in a public place as long as they are not breaking any other laws or obstructing emergency services.

Mrs Clarke told The Argus: "As I understand it the group who were protesting were causing a disruption to a group who had booked an event space to promote their art festival.

"They were asked nicely to move to an area where they would not disrupt an organised event that the public were enjoying.

"We respect the right for people to protest but they were not asked not to take photographs of the town but not to take close-up photographs of individuals who were finding the experience distressing.

"We would always ask for everyone using the town to respect others around them.

"It is not against the law to take photographs in the town but it is also not against the law for an individual to request that their picture is not taken."