PROTESTORS dressed as Batman and Robin scaled Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge yesterday to draw attention to their campaign.

Two members of Fathers 4 Justice climbed the bridge at 4am and unfurled banners proclaiming support for Paul Watson, the group's candidate in the Hartlepool parliamentary by-election.

The masked men, a 43-year-old millionaire formerly of Middlesbrough, and 33-year-old Stephen Fletcher, of Redhouse, Sunderland, shivered in their tights as they were lashed by a chilling wind above the River Tees for ten hours.

Once back on the ground the pair were unrepentant.

"It was the support of the people that kept us going," said father-of-three Mr Fletcher. We didn't know what sort of reception we would get, but throughout the day plenty of women came along to offer us support - which means a lot to us."

Businessman "Robin", who did not want to be identified, said: "We came to get our point across and I believe we have achieved that aim."

The organisation's North-East co-ordinator, Mike Kelly, said: "They are two men from this area who are desperate to see their children and who are being thwarted by the system.

"One is a chap from Middlesbrough who has already spent almost a million pounds fighting unsuccessfully through the courts for greater access to his youngsters. It is a terrible situation for him."

David Paul, a father-of-one and Middlesbrough firefighter, turned out to support the pair.

He said: "People shouldn't have to resort to these tactics, but until the family law is changed, and fathers are granted equal access to their children, this appears to be the only way forward."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "We were given advanced warning of the protest and it is not causing us any problems.

"It is very peaceful and the bridge is closed for maintenance at the moment, so it is not disrupting traffic.