An activist who unfurled a 30ft banner on the Houses of Parliament has denied causing a public nuisance.

Guy Harrison, 38, of Peppers Lane, Ashurst, Steyning, admits scaling the Palace of Westminster to promote the now defunct Fathers4Justice campaign.

But he claims his actions did not amount to public nuisance and the stunt was a protest in the public interest.

Harrison appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday to deny a charge of causing a public nuisance which could land him three years in prison.

On September 27 last year, the millionaire farmer climbed on to the roof of the Westminster landmark.

He had clambered out of a top-floor toilet window and climbed scaffolding in order to get on to the roof.

Harrison is charged with causing a public nuisance by "interfering with the public's exercise and enjoyment of common rights by acting in a manner likely to be dangerous to their safety."

His actions caused the closure of public areas nearby as paramedics and the fire service were called.

Prosecutors claim masonry could have fallen from the roof and killed or injured a member of the public.

Harrison started campaigning after being denied access to his young daughter Isabella four and a half years ago.

He told The Argus: "It was my birthday the next day and I wanted to prove to my daughter how much I missed not seeing her. I wanted to say I am still fighting to change the law so I can see her in the near future.

"I wanted to do a high-profile stunt which shows the atrocious way our democracy is looked after.

"I held a banner that said 'Does Blair Care?' and 'Guy Fawkes Harrison', because there was a gunpowder plot exhibition on there at the time, and a picture of me and my daughter."

Fathers4Justice last month announced it was to disband in the wake of the furore over the alleged plot to kidnap Tony Blair's son.

Harrison said: "In five years they have had five arrests, three of which have been mine in the last 18 months. One was the flour bombing of Tony Blair and then they arrested me twice for going into the Houses of Parliament. I don't regret doing it and I will carry on doing things in my own right. I am looking at starting my own campaign and I will do another high-profile stunt soon. I am looking at something involving sky diving.

"I could get three years in prison, which is a complete waste of taxpayers' money, and I have a criminal record linked to terrorism.

Mr Harrison was bailed to stand trial on July 17.