THE self-proclaimed George Fox Six' a group of students prosecuted by Lancaster University have won the backing of the local Labour Party.

The students stormed a conference in the George Fox building last year and were convicted of aggravated trespass following a trial at Lancaster Magistrates' Court.

They intend to appeal against the conviction and the Lancaster branch of the Labour Party intend to support them.

Says Labour's Michael Gibson: "The uni-versity's decision to seek prosecutions against some of its own students for trespass - on the students' own campus - showed a worrying lack of respect for freedom of speech. It has also handed the uni a PR disaster - rightly so."

And Dr James Groves, a university graduate and member of the University Court, says: "At its worst this was a minor disruption which could and should have been dealt with through the university's internal disciplinary proce-dures.

"The offence of aggravated trespass was designed to deal with significant and serious criminal disruptions to lawful activity.

"Using it to prosecute six people for wandering into a meeting, shouting disapproval, blowing some whistles and leaving - in under three minutes - is, we believe, a serious abuse of procedure which may violate the Human Rights Act.

And he adds: "We wish the six well in their appeal."