Today is the fifth anniversary of peace protestor Brian Haw's lone vigil outside Parliament.

Over the past 1,825 days, his demonstration has grown from a single placard to a 40m display - most of which was dismantled by 78 police officers last week.

The 57-year-old has been arrested at least three times - and every time cleared or released without charge.

Members of the public, including an employee of the American Embassy and American soldiers, attacked the father-of-seven on at least three occasions. Armed officers guarding Parliament across the road did not step in. Mr Haw later needed hospital surgery for his twice-broken nose.

Three times police have seized his placards in the small hours of the night. After the first two attempts, they were forced to apologise for acting unlawfully.

MPs finally drew up legislation to ban him from his post. Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, no-one can protest within 1km from Parliament without police permission.

But the High Court ruled Mr Haw was the only person in the country exempt from the law, as his protest started before the act was introduced.

Last month the Court of Appeals overturned that decision. Met chief Sir Ian Blair ordered Mr Haw to limit his display to 3m. When he refused, 78 officers swooped at around 3am one night to remove all but two of his placards.

Mr Haw came to Parliament Square on 2 June 2001 after being moved by a protest against sanctions in Iraq earlier that year. He started out with a grey plastic chair and a small sign reading, "Stop Killing Kids, Let Iraq's Infants Live".

Bar three spells in hospital and his many court appearances, he has been there ever since.

Fans including the street artist Banksy brought him dozens of banners in protest against the Iraq war, thought to have killed over 100,000 innocent people.

At night Mr Haw slept under a plastic sheet; by day a colourful umbrella sheltered him from sun and rain.

On his website, he says: "I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again knowing that I've done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my government's unjust, amoral, fear - and money - driven policies.

"These children and people of other countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children."