A peace campaigner who has been camping opposite the Houses of Parliament since June 2001 may be forced to pack up his banners.

Brian Haw, 53, from Redditch, Worcestershire, is protesting about economic sanctions and the Anglo-American bombing of Iraq.

Now Westminster City Council is taking him to court because it says his banners and placards are obstructing the highway.

The hearing takes place at the High Court on Tuesday.

Tourist attraction

"Their message was 'we're going to take away all of your signs' - leave me here outside Parliament without one sign," Mr Haw told BBC London.

"Anybody who looks at the Human Rights Act and the right of freedom of expression will realise how wrong that is."

The former merchant seamen and cabinet maker has become a tourist attraction in his own right.

He has had messages of support from people but he has also suffered verbal abuse.

His family and supporters keep him supplied with food but he has no tent and sleeps under a canvas sheet.

Mr Haw has had both support and abuse

Westminster Council insists his banners are the nuisance, not him.

"There's a big difference between one individual having 20 banners and an individual having a protest which is commensurate with his right to exercise democratic accountability," said council spokesman Carl Powell.

But Mr Haw's solicitor Mike Schwarz says he has a right to protest.

"Westminster sees Parliament as a tourist attraction, whereas Parliament's primary role is for democratic discussion to take place.

"That can't be done without them having the opportunity of lobbying in the best and most peaceful ways possible, such as Brian's doing."

Mr Haw says although he has been sitting outside Parliament for nearly 500 days not many MPs have come to see him.

"Only five have bothered, and Tony Benn is the only one who has sat on that bench with me. He's a good guy. "