One of the country's top barristers (Michael Mansfield QC) has used a talk in Clacton to attack the government.

Michael Mansfield QC, who has been involved in many high profile legal cases told members of Clacton's Arts and Literary Society that the government had "Undermined respect for institutions and the rule of law",  ignored due process and, with the invasion of Iraq, had reverted to the law of the jungle, rahter than the law of nations.

The event took place at the Princess theatre and he told a capacity audience of the details of some of his more famous cases. There included the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry as well as the Jill Dando murder and the Birmingham Six case.

Currently he is set to represent Mohammed Al Fayed at the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fyed. He said: "Today, when there is such a flood of information coming at us from the internet, television, radio and the press, it is more important than ever before to question what we are told."

His visit was sponsored by the Clacton and Colchester based solicitors firm Thompson Smith & Puxon. He is pictured with from left to right: at the front are Robin Baldwin, Robert Gillespie (both from sponsors of the event, Thompson Smith & Puxon), Jan Rodwell (President, Clacton & NE Essex Arts & Literary Society), Michael Mansfield QC, Richard Porter and Mary Anne Fedeyko (Thompson Smith & Puxon), with guests.