A PAIR of Southampton students are two of ten protesters found guilty of aggravated trespass following an anti-cuts demonstration at Fortnum and Mason.

The luxury department store in central London was targeted by members of the UK Uncut campaign group on the day of a large TUC march in the capital.

London's City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard protesters organised the March 26 occupation of the store on Twitter ''as they believe that the store is guilty of tax avoidance''.

Sebastian Jones, 20, from Southampton and Oliver Pope, 20, of Pentire Avenue, Southampton, joined eight others who were among a number of protesters who rushed through the doors of the store just before 4pm.

All bar one were given a six-month conditional discharge ad told to pay £1,000 each towards costs.

Describing the mayhem during the occupation of the shop known as the Queen's Grocer, District Judge Michael Snow told the court: ''The scene inside the store was chaotic. Protesters were shouting and screaming at a very high volume.''

There were chants of, ''If you don't pay your taxes, shut you down'', ''Whose shop, our shop'', and ''Occupy, occupy, pay your taxes'', the court heard.

Megaphones were used and, having overwhelmed police officers who were trying to keep them out of the store, protesters took over control of its Piccadilly door.

Some of the demonstrators were masked and many carried placards and were handing out flyers, District Judge Snow said.

Other protesters hung banners while drums were beaten, horns were sounded and bagpipes were played.

Tents were erected and volleyball was played across the displays.

Some goods were stolen from the store during the occupation, some were damaged and others were swept on to the floor.

Tape bearing the words ''closed by UK Uncut'' was wrapped around the outside of the store and around displays.

A number of staff were subjected to chants of ''pay your taxes''.

As a result of the protest, the store suffered lost sales amounting to £54,581, the court heard.