A marriage between a Sikh and non-Sikh couple was due to take place

Fifty-five people have been arrested after armed police swooped on a Sikh temple in a row over mixed marriages.

Officers descended on the Gurdwara Temple in Leamington Spa, at 6.47am today after a peaceful protest took place on the couple's big day.

Police cordoned off the roads around the temple - which is one of the largest Sikh temples outside of India and cost £11million to build.

Jatinder Singh Birdi, a former treasurer at the temple, said a marriage between a Sikh and non-Sikh couple was due to take place.

Officers made so many arrests they hired a coach to take them away.

Police insisted the arrests were made for 'suspicion of aggravated trespass' and not for carrying 'bladed weapons'.

Sikh protesters sit down for a peaceful protest against the marriage in the gurdwara

A video appeared on Facebook which showed the protest. A banner reading: 'Stop violating Sikh principles for money!!' was shown to the camera

Police officers take down details of suspects arrested in connection with the temple protest

Police hired a coach (pictured) after 55 people were arrested for protesting at the temple

Force vans escorted the coach to a police station after the protest which is thought to be over a mixed marriage

Police cordoned off the roads around the temple - which is one of the largest Sikh temples outside of India

Officers descended on Gurdwara Temple in Leamington Spa after men stormed the building

Mr Birdi said mixed marriages has been a contentious issue in the local Sikh community, with a minority against using the temple for such services.

He said: 'There have been tensions that have been going on for a couple of years with some people objecting to mixed marriages in taking place in the gurdwara.

'Nothing has happened on this level before. This is meant to be one of the happiest moments of somebody's life - it shows a lack of respect.'

Many Sikhs see the bid to stop inter-religious marriages as an attempt by men to control Sikh women and stop them from marrying 'out'.

A group calling themselves 'Sikh Youth Birmingham' claimed they were responsible for the occupation of the temple.

They said around 100 'peaceful protesters' had come to 'uphold the sanctity of the sacred Anand Karaj', the term for a Sikh wedding.

Police responded to the incident at the temple in Leamington Spa early this morning

A video on their Facebook page appears to show two armed officers confronting them inside the temple.

Another clip shows dozens of men with their faces covered in dark hoods sitting on the floor while chanting Sikh prayers.

A police spokesman said the force had not conceded that the protesters had 'simply walked into' the building or that only small Kirpans were found.

'We will be working to establish the exact facts of the incident,' the spokesman said.

Another Facebook group called 'Sikh 2 Inspire' wrote: 'Our brothers peacefully protested in the form of a sit down protest chanting Waheguru Mantar at Leamington Spa Gurdwara sahib, and are currently being arrested. What is their crime?

'No violence was committed, no one used a Sri Sahib, and no foul language was used.

'The Sikhs protesting were not 'armed' with anything other than their kirpans which a Sikh must wear always being amritdhari.

Officers went inside the temple to 'negotiate a peaceful resolution' with the protesters

On the 'Sikh Youth Birmingham' Facebook page, many raised objections to their protests.

Sunile Doal said: 'Today my mate's Satsang on what was today his 18th birthday was cancelled due to this protesting.

'I'm so ashamed how these embarrassing protesters can be so selfish in ruining the daily events and visiting of my friends and family members all over the country on his special day and for other people who visit the Gurdwara on a regular basis especially on a Sunday.

'As a Sikh community we are a community who stand together. Today I've never seen such a selfish act from these protesters who have ruined what would've been a great day with celebration. No words.'

To that, the group replied: 'The police cancelled it. Nobody else stopped anyone entering the Gurdwara.'

Many Sikhs see the bid to stop inter-religious marriages as an attempt by men to control Sikh women and stop them from marrying 'out'

A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said earlier: 'We would like to reassure people that this is not being treated as a terrorist incident.

'There are also religious leaders in the Temple working with officers to negotiate a peaceful resolution.'

Superintendent David Gardner added: 'We would like to reassure people that this was a contained incident that we believe was an escalation of a local dispute.

SIKHS ALLOWED TO WEAR SMALL DAGGER Sikhs wear a small dagger called a Kirpan. It is a symbol of courage and must never be used to attack, although their religion says it can be used for protection if other methods of defence have failed. In the UK under the Criminal Justice Act 1989, people are allowed to carry blades for religious reasons. Britain boasts the largest Sikh community outside of India with 336,000 followers recorded in a 2001 census, although Sikh community figures say the real figure is more than double that. Advertisement

'A significant number of bladed weapons were seized from the scene. As a result of reports that the men were in possession of these weapons we deployed armed officers as a precaution. Nobody was injured in the incident.

'Over the coming days we will be working with the local Sikh community to address some of the ongoing issues that have culminated in today's events.

'We would like to thank local people for their patience while we dealt with this incident.'

Police cordoned off the surrounding roads as they attempted to the bring an end to the dispute.

All but one of the 55 suspects - aged between 17 and 39 - have been released on police bail until next month, pending further inquiries.

A 30-year-old man from Derby remains in police custody.

This is not the first time a marriage between a Sikh and non Sikh has been disrupted.

In August last year, demonstrators - many of them masked - tried to stop a wedding between a Sikh bride and her Non-Sikh partner at the Sri Dasmesh Gurdwara in Birmingham.

The protesters hurled abuse at guests and temple elders.