Five protesters arrested after a demonstration at a dockyard where a casual worker died on his first day have had all charges against them dropped.

They were protesting against Euromin Ltd in December last year, a week after the firm was fined £50,000 for two serious health and safety breaches.

A judge said the Dutch company's failure to carry out a proper safety assessment could have contributed to Simon Jones' death at Shoreham docks in April 1998.

Farah Bishnani, 26, Crispin Dowler, 24, Sarah McLaughlin, 28, Carley North, 26, and David Harbinson, 34, were arrested and accused of causing intimidation at the demo where work was brought to a halt.

They faced a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

But yesterday, at Worthing Magistrates Court, prosecutors announced it was not in the public interest to proceed with the cases.

Simon, 24, was on a year out from a course studying social anthropology at Sussex University when he took a job at the dockyard.

Two hours into his first day he was dead, his head crushed by the jaws of a crane grab.

Miss McLaughlin, of Golf Drive, Brighton, said she would continue to fight for justice.

She said: "I'm pleased the charges have been dropped but I feel sickened so little is being done to get justice for Simon.

"Instead so much time, effort and money has been wasted on pressing the charges in the first place.

"This should have been put into improving safety procedures at Euromin."

Simon's mother Anne Jones said: "I'm very glad these charges have been dropped. There clearly is not any public interest in prosecuting protesters in this way and it's good the Crown Prosecution Service has now realised that."

Colin Chalmers, of the Simon Jones Memorial Campaign, said: "We're glad the CPS has finally realised that the people protesting against this dock are not criminals. Our campaign will continue until the authorities wake up to what is going on."

Backed by the campaign, Simon's mother and father Chris campaigned for the prosecution of Euromin and its director Richard Martell. Both were cleared of manslaughter at the Old Bailey last year.