NORTH-EAST demonstrator Thomas Dobson has talked for the first time of his arrest and deportation after clashing with Chinese police at a protest in Macau.

Speaking from Hong Kong last night, the 26-year-old, who grew up in Darlington and Barnard Castle, County Durham, said he feared for his safety as he was bundled into a police van, along with other supporters of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, during a demonstration in the former Portuguese colony on Tuesday.

Mr Dobson's arrest was caught on film by a Hong Kong television news crew.

He was taken to a Macau police station where he was questioned and held for six-hours, before being escorted to a ferry to take him back to Hong Kong.

He said: "We were peacefully protesting when the police just pounced on us, and we were manhandled and bundled into a police van. All we wanted to do was get our message across."

The demonstration was planned to coincide with the arrival of the Chinese president, to mark the first anniversary of Chinese rule.

In October, Mr Dobson was arrested in Paris for demonstrating outside the Chinese Embassy.

He said: "I have friends who have been beaten for practising Falun Gong, and there are thousands in labour camps in China. There are many who have been tortured to death."

The Foreign Office is still investigating Mr Dobson's arrest.

Born in Paris, Mr Dobson moved to County Durham with his father Paul, and went to St Augustine's RC School, in Darlington, and St Mary's RC School, in Barnard Castle.

He now lives and teaches in Sydney, Australia.