ENGLISH Defence League members gatecrashed a book club meeting discussing Russell Brand’s book Revolution.

The men thought the controversial comedian was going to attend the event at Bar Loco, Leazes Park Road, Newcastle.

They chanted various slogans and refused requests by the manager to leave the building.

Police were called and spoke to the group of 15 who then left, one of them saying that they were going for a curry. No-one was arrested.

Book club member Dan Jenkins, a former journalist with The Northern Echo, said: “It was an open book club to discuss Russell Brand's new book.

“But the guys from EDL clearly thought he was going to turn up himself so had gathered a group together from all over the North-East to come and disturb the meeting.

“I got there a bit late so I was sitting among them at the back and I could hear them talking about it and asking when he was coming, and then 20 minutes in they realised that he wasn't coming so they decided to be disruptive.”

Mr Jenkins, 39, of West Denton, Newcastle, said the men had then started singing 'No surrender to the Taliban', and 'With St George in my heart, keep me English.' heart, keep me English.'

EDL regional organiser Alan Spence said the group gatecrashed the event in retaliation for left-wing activists disrupting an EDL event .

'We went because there were going to be known activists that were going to be there and we got told Russell Brand was going to be there too. He's a joke.”

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: 'Officers attended and spoke to those at the event. No offences were committed.'