More than 20 members of a Christian orthodox church have gone on hunger strike in protest over the removal of their priest.
Health officials have been requested to keep watch on at least two of the 25 protesters who have diabetes.
The hunger strike began after 400 worshipers occupied the basement of the Sudanese church in Hove, East Sussex.
They are refusing to eat unless their leader, Pope Sinooda the Third, orders an investigation into the forced retirement of Father Zakrya Boutro, 69.
Sussex Police called for negotiations in the hope of ending the protest at St Mary and St Abraham Coptic Orthodox Church in Davigdor Road, Hove.
The church, which has its base in Egypt, is one of several across Europe and America. In Hove alone, more than 350 families worship regularly.
The Coptic Church is founded on the teachings of Saint Mark, who took Christianity to Egypt in the first century A.D.
A protester told today how angry members of the congregation acted on Friday against a decision by Bishop Daniel Anthony, from Sydney, to remove Father akrya.
Bishop Anthony was asked by Pope Sinooda to investigate complaints made against Father Zakrya. But, protesters claim, he was acting without the Pope's approval by ordering Father Zakrya to leave.
The protester, who refused to be named, said: "When the Bishop arrived on January 11, he said to Father Zakrya either go and work in Denmark or retire. Father Zakrya said he was too old to go to Denmark and learn a new language and accepted retirement. But the Bishop did not ask the people first. We do not think he had the backing of the Pope and we want the Pope to order an investigation into whether he was right or wrong."