A cafe owner told his terrified staff to “lock up and run away” after it was overrun by anti-war demonstrators.

Kevin Whelan could only look on in horror as dozens of people taking part in the controversial Smash EDO protest clambered onto the roof of the Beach House Cafe, next to the Palace Pier.

They caused more than £2,000 of damage, most of which he will have to pay from his own pocket, by smashing lights and spraying graffiti.

Mr Whelan, who owns two other cafes and a coffee shop in Brighton and Hove, said the demonstration began peacefully outside the Palace Pier last Monday morning.

But the atmosphere turned sour when protesters returned in the afternoon.

Mr Whelan said: “We had to close four hours early. My staff had phoned me and they were terrified. I just told them to lock the door and run.

“The only reason anyone didn't die or end up in a wheelchair is that the café used to be a be a police station so is made from reinforced concrete.

“If they had jumped on the other parts of the cafe the roof would have collapsed.”

The Bank Holiday march was billed as a protest against defence manufacturers EDO MBM/ ITT, which has a factory in Moulsecoomb.

But other businesses including Barclays and McDonald's were also targeted after protest organisers said they had links to the firm.

Mr Whelan, who said he “understands” many of the issues demonstrators were protesting about, was bitterly upset to be targeted alongside multi-national corporations.

He said: “I am a small businessman in Brighton and go out of my way to keep all my activity locally based and buy everything from local farmers and suppliers.

“I felt embarrassed. People who were coming here for the first time were terrified. Tourists and mums with prams were having to run to get out of the way.”

He praised the police for making sure the situation did not get even more out of hand.

Andrew Beckett, spokesman for Smash EDO, described the damage caused to the cafe as “regrettable”.

He added: “It was not our plan for anyone to climb on his roof or do any damage. We had a map of protest sites and he was not on it.

“What a bunch of people did at the end of the march was not something we planned or intended.

“I don't think it will happen again.”