Fathers' rights group take on 'Big Brother'

Fifteen members of media-savvy pressure group Fathers 4 Justice have been arrested following an attempt to stage an early morning stunt at the 'Celebrity Big Brother' compound in Hertfordshire.

Targeting Elstree Film Studios complex, the raid involved a three-pronged attack on the compound's fences while security guards where diverted to the front gates by a firework display.

Herfordshire police, who used a helicopter with heat sensitive imaging equipment to help round up the protesters, are now holding 13 men and two women on suspicion of conspiring to cause criminal damage.

Indicating that the raid was the first in a series of protests planned for the run up to the General Election, a Fathers 4 Justice spokesperson said the protesters "wanted to raise awareness of the risks posed to young unmarried men who watch Big Brother and who might become fathers, but are not aware that they have little or no rights in law to protect them".

The protesters reportedly had with them a 'F4J goodie bag' containing a bottle of Diet Coke, a bottle of vodka, a large bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and a pack of Mates condoms, which they had planned to drop in for the show's celebrity contestants.

Fathers 4 Justice, who have taken eighteenth century philosopher Jeremy Bentham's "publicity is the very soul of justice" as a slogan, are committed to highlighting what they see as bias against men in family courts, and have staged a number of widely-discussed direct action stunts in recent years, including a flour bomb attack on the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

The group's members often dress in superhero costumes while engaged in high-profile protesting, and at least one of last night's raiders was dressed as Superman.

(GB)