A man was arrested by police after demonstrators burst into a combined court centre to carry out a sit down protest today.

The man, a member of the Fathers4Justice group, managed to reached the first floor of the Teesside Crown Court building in Middlesbrough, where he was confronted by police and escorted from the premises.

Three of his colleagues carried out a sit down protest in the foyer of the court, but were persuaded by police officers to move, Three of them then sat down in the middle of an access road to the court, to block the path of the police van, taking the man who had been arrested, to Middlesbrough Police Station, 200 yards away.

Teesside was one of a number of court houses across the UK targeted by the group who are demanding equal rights under Family Law for fathers.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "A man in his 30s was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace. He was arrested shortly afterwards without charge.''.