TEN Fathers 4Justice campaigners dressed as Santa Claus were this morning protesting in Southampton.

The eight men and two women, using megaphones, gained access to the office of MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead at the city's labour party headquarters in Southampton Street, off Carlton Road, in Bedford Place.

The protest, which began at 10.45am, was over the fact that the MPs didn't support an amendment to a bill in the House of Commons which gives separated parents legal rights to have contact with their children.

A spokesman for the group Jeff Botterill, 44, the Hampshire political co-ordinator, said: "We have asked to speak to them (the MPs) and asked for the reasons why they voted against this amendment. We don't know if they are in there or if they are due to be. All we know is that they won't speak to us."

Both Mr Denham and Mr Whitehead were in London this morning.

The group was in the building for about 30 minutes before they were asked to leave by police who had been called to the offices by staff.

Five members of the group remained outside the premises saying they would not leave until an MP spoke to them.