THE HAMPSHIRE spokesman for Fathers 4 Justice has criticised an activist who dressed as Batman and scaled the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Fathers 4 Justice campaigner Jason Hatch caused an embarrassing security breach at the royal residence in London when he managed to position himself on the front of the historic building despite the presence of armed police guards.

After more than five hours standing on a ledge 25ft above the ground and to the right of the main balcony, Hatch waved and clapped to the crowds before being slowly lowered to the ground with two police officers in a cherry picker.

Phil Osgood, the group's Hampshire spokesman, said that although the stunt had raised the organisation's profile, he was personally against the protest.

He said: "On a personal note, I think it has caused damage. I believe he has destroyed all the good work that myself and a lot of people in the area have done and I think we are back to square one again."

Hatch wore a safety helmet as he was lowered and stepped down from the platform when it reached the ground looking the worse for wear after his long protest. He was then led by officers to a police van.

The Queen was not at the palace as Hatch, wearing grey tights, black pants and cape, the superhero's bat symbol and a mask with pointed ears, staged his demonstration just before 2pm yesterday.

He unfurled a banner which read: "Super dads of Fathers 4 Justice" and "Fighting for your right to your kids".

Hatch, 32, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, climbed the outer fence using a ladder helped by Dave Pyke, who was dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin.

Other protesters distracted the attention of police by climbing on the front gate.

Pyke, 48, also from Cheltenham, said he came down from the ladder after police threatened to shoot him and was amazed to find that no one apprehended him.

He was led away by police.

The latest security lapse is a severe embarrassment to police chiefs, who were forced to step up surveillance at the palace in the wake of a spate of problems.

Security was reviewed after a Daily Mirror reporter got a job as a palace footman before a state visit by US President George Bush in November last year.