The protest was viewed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Leader of the Opposition William Hague, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who were in the front pews.

The demonstrators were intercepted by a priest and church stewards and hustled from the building. There were no arrests.

"Sir David encouraged news stories and editorials that stereotyped, vilified, misrepresented and demonized the homosexual community," said OutRage!'s Ray Harvey-Amer.

"Sir David and the Daily Mail have queer blood on their hands. This memorial service was a sham. It ignores the pain and suffering inflicted on lesbian and gay people by a man who was a shameless propagandist for homophobia."

Rev. Nicholas Holtam, vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, called the protest "wholly inappropriate."

"It was at the wrong time and in the wrong place," he said. "People were hugely angry. The thinking behind it was very one- dimensional. It happened just minutes before Sir David's three children were about to talk. It was very disrespectful."

Posters showing a drawing of a boot stomping on a man's head accompanied by the caption "Make sure you stamp out your fag properly" have appeared in the British seaside resort of Bridlington in east Yorkshire, reports The Pink Paper. In Britain, "fag" also refers to a cigarette.

Police believe the Manchester-based fascist group The Third Position is behind the posters, which began appearing after news spread that a gay pub might open in the town.