The Church of Scientology has asked Mid Sussex District Council to impose an order stopping people from protesting outside its British headquarters in East Grinstead.

A request for a Public Space Protection Order was submitted in the hope of preventing protests like the one held by ex-Scientologists last November outside the grounds in Saint Hill Road.

Scientology became a recognised religion in the UK in 2013.

Alexander Barnes-Ross, a spokesman for the ex-Scientologist group, said such an order would be a “direct threat to their freedom of speech and right to protest”.