Soldiers who had just returned from fighting in Iraq were accused of being baby killers and rapists by a group of protestors, a court has heard.

On Monday (January 4) the trial began of seven men accused of using 'abusive, threatening or insulting' language or behaviour towards soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, nicknamed The Poachers, during their homecoming parade through Luton in March last year.

The seven, who are all from Luton, have pleaded not guilty to public order offences.

Prosecutor Avirup Chaudhuri told Luton Magistrates Court that police had met with protestors two days before the Poachers' parade, and agreed that they could hold a peaceful demonstration.

He said: "The police were aware that there were those within the community who wished to voice their opinions about the wars the regiment had been involved with.

"The police wanted to facilitate their protest while minimising the risk of disorder."

Beds Police had a 'no arrest' policy in place on the day of the parade, and the men were not arrested until May, once video footage taken by police at the event had been examined.

It was agreed that the group could stand outside the Arndale Centre near Don Miller's bakery, but other groups began to gather in different areas.

Mr Chaudhuri told the court that shouts from the protestors of "British Army murderers", "British soldiers burn in hell" and "baby killers shame on you" upset spectators who had turned out to watch the march.

Police had to form a barrier between the protestors and angry members of the public, he said.

They managed to shepherd the men to the designated protest area but had to form another barrier as angry crowds gathered.

Once the disturbances had died down the men were given a police escort away from the town centre, Mr Chaudhuri added.

Four of the men, 19-year-old Jubair Ahmed, of Beech Road, 32-year-old Ziaur Rahman, of Nunnery Lane, 31-year-old Shajjadar Choudhury, of Essex Close, and 28-year-old Munim Abdul, of Highbury Road, refused to answer officers' questions after they were arrested. All four men were seen in footage from the day shouting phrases such as "British soldiers go to hell", the court heard.

Jalal Ahmed, 21, of Cavendish Road, told police he had gone into town to visit the shops when he saw the protests taking place and decided to join in. During questioning he said all he had shouted was "Allah is the greatest" but he was seen in footage instigating the chanting, shouting "baby killers and rapists all of you".

Yousaf Bashir, 29, of Dane Road, told officers after his arrest that he had gone to the protest to exercise his right to freedom of speech, and could not understand why he was being held.

Ibrahim Anderson, 32, of Warwick Road West, said he had joined the protests because he feared for his own safety on the day due to his Muslim dress. He shouted "British soldiers burn in hell" but did not mean his actions to cause alarm or distress, Mr Chaudhuri said.

The prosecution accepts that the men were holding a peaceful protest on a matter of legitimate public debate. But it argues that the branding the men baby killers and rapists, and telling them that they would "pay" for their actions strayed beyond that.

The trial is expected to last a week.