CAMPAIGNERS who are fighting for the release of the Dance Academy boss and DJ are due to hold a protest at the venue, while an appeal court decides the pair's fate.

Both Manoucehr Bahmanzadeh, owner of the Union Street venue, and Tom Costelloe, who was general manager and DJ at the club, will appear before three High Court judges at the Court of Appeal in The Strand, London, on October 29.

Bahmanzadeh received a nine-year sentence for allowing the "rampant" sale of Ecstasy in the club while Costelloe was hit with a five-year sentence.

Both are appealing against their convictions and sentences.

While the pair face three appeal judges who will hear their submissions, a crowd of supporters are planning to hold a protest outside the Dance Academy.

Protest organiser, Andi D Gartside, has launched a social networking site group to "free the Plymouth two" and claims he has received the blessing of the country's biggest dance magazine, Mixmag, who launched the original campaign.

Messages of support have flooded in from across the UK from clubbers who have travelled to the popular dance venue, or have heard of it by its reputation.

On the site he wrote: "My aim is to get as many people as possible to join me in a peaceful protest outside the Dance Academy prior to the court of appeal listening to Tom's and Manouche's appeal."

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