Political comedian Mark Thomas joined a noisy band of protesters outside a factory which makes bomb release parts for fighter jets.

The comic was among more than 50 people who created a carnival-like demonstration to greet staff at EDO MBM Technology in Home Farm Road, Brighton, yesterday.

The demonstration marked what could be the last legal public protest against the company.

EDO has applied for a High Court injunction to prevent anybody protesting within a half mile radius of its plant, except quietly, in groups of no more than ten, in a specified time slot on Thursdays.

The case is expected to be heard at Brighton Magistrates Court tomorrow.

If successful, it would be the first time laws originally created to protect women from stalkers have been used against protesters.

Mr Thomas, said: "Freedom of expression is a legal human right.

"We only got the vote because people protested."