Two fathers' rights protesters were fined yesterday for their part in a failed protest at the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Jason Hatch (33) and David Pyke ( 49) were arrested outside the Channel 4 studio compound before they were able to launch their protest, in the early hours of January 14.

The pair, along with four other group members, were caught with Fathers 4 Justice banners still rolled up and their trademark superhero costumes still in their rucksacks before they could enter the complex in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

Fireworks were let off, waking neighbours as well as the celebrity housemates, who included feminist Germaine Greer, racing pundit John McCririck and model Caprice.

Firefighters had to cut the pair free after they handcuffed themselves to railings to avoid arrest.

Hatch, of Alstone Mews, Cheltenham, and Pyke, of Swindon Village, near Cheltenham, were convicted at St Albans Magistrates' Court of disorderly conduct and of obstructing a police officer.

They were both fined £400 and ordered to pay a further £ 418 in costs and compensation.

District Judge Geoffrey Wicks told them: "This is not the first time that you have been involved in a demonstration which is designed to attract to your cause the maximum publicity.

"I am not proposing to make martyrs of you because in my view your case does not have sufficient merit to warrant martyrdom."

Speaking outside court Hatch, the Batman protester who scaled the front of Buckingham Palace earlier this year, said he was disappointed at the outcome.

But both he and Pyke, who have since quit the group and have formed their own campaign, Real Fathers 4 Justice, vowed to continue with the high profile protests to win a change in the law for fathers.

He said: "I am disappointed. I'm a single parent and they are just taking away the food from my child to pay a fine for a peaceful protest.

"One good thing that has come out of it, we have joined the Real Fathers 4 Justice and we will both continue to demonstrate, high profile publicity stunts.

"The law is still in a right shambles and we are not going to stop."

Hatch went on: "We have really gone to the limits with the Buckingham Palace stunt, you are going to see a lot more of that sort in the name of Real Fathers 4 Justice. We are real fathers who care and will fight for their children and we will get this law changed."