More students joined protests against the looming war in Iraq at their Sussex schools today.

Pupils at Tideway School in Newhaven staged a sit-down protest on the tennis courts before lessons this morning and say they'll protest again if hostilities begin in the next few days.

Headteacher Adrian Money said pupils had given the school no warning about the protest but they had the right to express their opinions.

He said: "I have just spoken to a number of Year 11 students who said they had arranged it on the bus this morning.

"They have indicated they will be going back to lessons this morning but should hostilities start they want to demonstrate.

"It's a difficult one for a headteacher but I do believe students have a right to have their voices heard. In a situation as grave as the one we're in I think it would be unwise to say they cannot express their opinions."

Yesterday pupils at Patcham High School in Brighton assembled in the playground ten minutes before the end of the school day and signed petitions calling for Tony Blair to think again.

Others signed a "thinking of you" book, sending their personal messages to friends and relatives directly involved in the action.

Lauren Deacon, 13, said: "My cousin Richard is alongside the Marines in Iraq and we are all a bit worried about him. I don't think we should be dropping bombs or anything but Saddam Hussein does need sorting out."

Headteacher Liz Fletcher said: "Quite a lot of the students have brothers or relatives who are directly involved.

"We have left it up to them if they want to go home or come here and express themselves. They should be free to express their opinion but in a democratic way and a way that involved the school council."

Meanwhile, students at Blatchington Mill School in Hove are promising to protest again, days after their first protest ended in controversy.

Several pupils were suspended after an anti-war walkout at the school, last week, got out of control.

About 200 pupils charged out of classes and dozens left the school grounds to take their protest to the streets.

A Year 11 student told our reporter another protest was being planned due to pupils' strong anti-war feelings, adding: "This protest may be today or the day after but this time it will be bigger and we will get our opinions across."

Pupils from Chailey School near Lewes, took part in a sit-down demonstration in the playground from 9.30am yesterday.

Teachers were happy for the event to go ahead, even if it meant some children missing a day of lessons.

Pupil Laura-Jayne Healey, 15, said she had helped organise the event because she felt young people needed a voice on Iraq.

She said: "We don't like the way Tony Blair and George Bush have gone ahead with this. We want them to see how strongly young people feel. We are hoping what we are doing can make a difference."

Head teacher Vivian Howell said: "There is a very strong humanitarian feeling here. We decided to let the protest go ahead because the youngsters are seriously concerned about what is happening."

Iraq latest from USA Today: iraq.usatoday.com