QUAKERS turned out at Bristol Magistrates' Court to support two men who refused to fill in their census forms on ethical grounds.

Peace activists John Marjoram, 72, and Roger Franklin, 84, were prosecuted after failing to fill in the forms last May.

The pair refused to take part in the process in protest at the fact that US weapons maker Lockheed Martin was administering it.

They were supported in court yesterday by a group of Quakers and Green Party members – including several from Bristol.

The men say they refused to fill in their forms as they feared Lockheed Martin would use data to develop surveillance systems for national security.

Franklin, of Tickmorend, Horsley, Stroud, was fined £360 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after the case against him was proven.

He had refused to enter a plea to the charge of refusing to answer a question in schedule 2 of the census – an offence under the Census Act 1920.

When he was asked how he would pay the money owed to the court, he replied: "I'm not planning to pay it at the moment."

After being given 28 days to pay, he was warned that he could be arrested and sent to prison if he did not follow court orders.

Mr Marjoram, the mayor of Stroud who lives in Castle Street, Stroud, denied the same offence.

He will now face a trial before magistrates on May 31.

Alison Harris, prosecuting, said Mr Marjoram's opposition to Lockheed Martin's involvement in the census did not amount to a proper defence.

She said: "He is unrepresented and the issues put before the court could be accepted as mitigation but not a defence to the summons he faces."

She said the costs of the case, which could see up to eight people called in to give evidence, would be between £700 and £900.

Mr Marjoram, who has been a peace protester for 50 years after seeing the trauma suffered by his uncle in the First World War, said he objected to completing his census form on the grounds of conscience and long-held religious beliefs.

Court clerk Nathan Mainwaring advised Mr Marjoram that the court was not an arena for airing political views.

He said: "The court is not able to challenge matters of Parliament. It's a political point you are making in a legal forum."

Mr Marjoram said: "I will take legal advice if I can afford it. The narrowing down of this situation is not acceptable.

"I would have filled it (the census form) in if it hadn't been that company (Lockheed Martin)."

Graham Davey, 76, a Quaker and Green Party member from Knowle, was among several people from Bristol to offer their support to the men.

He said: "I'm here to show support and solidarity for people who have deliberately broken the law on grounds of conscience.

"They both have very long records of activism in the peace movement and they will accept their punishments. They are taking non-violent direct action. I completed the census forms without really realising what the issues were."