ANTI-racism campaigners from Stroud staged a demonstration outside Gloucester Crown Court on Friday as a 37-year-old former Merrywalks security guard appeared in connection with an attempt to set fire to a mosque in the city.

Clive Ceronne, of Redwood Close, Gloucester, who worked at the Stroud shopping centre in 2007, is charged with conspiracy to commit arson at the Masjid-E-Noor Mosque in Ryecroft Street, Gloucester, on June 18.

Ceronne made a brief appearance and was remanded in custody pending a trial.

He is jointly charged with Ashley Juggins, aged 20, of Brooklyn Road, Cheltenham, who did not appear on Friday because of a prison mix-up.

His case was adjourned for a week. Joe Maloney, representing Ceronne, said he understood the charge would be denied by both defendants.

A further hearing will take place on October 11 and a trial is due to start on November 18.

Cerrone and Juggins were charged follow an incident on June 18 when petrol was poured around the doorway of the mosque and set alight.

Minor damage was done to the doorway before the blaze was extinguished.

Police have said they regard the incident, which came less than a month after the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, as a 'hate crime'.

Before Friday's hearing a group of demonstrators from Stroud stood outside court with banners condemning racism.

One of their posters saying 'No Racism, No terror, We are together, Community solidarity' had been replicated in a dozen other languages.

Protester James Beecher said: "The Gloucester mosque was attacked three days after it held an open day and condemned terrorism. We have come here because it is important for us to show that we oppose racism."