Peace protest on Remembrance Day

The protesters, from the Green Party, set up a stall and put up banners and placards in the Chennevieres-Sur-Marne gardens opposite the war memorial, one of which read Imagine Peace.

Following a request from Littlehampton mayor Malcolm Belchamber, the police, who were already present at the ceremony, removed the signs.

Mr Belchamber said: "Everyone has got the right to express their opinions but there are channels to go through and this was neither the time nor the place to make that statement.

"When I walked through the town from the clock tower to the war memorial, I saw Sgt Ade Webb and asked his advice and he agreed that the posters and placards should be removed from the gardens as the gardens are Arun District Council property and they did not have permission to put them there.

"The ceremony was not about celebrating war but about respecting and honouring those who have died in war."

Neither the Royal British Legion nor the protesters were available for comment.