An independence campaigner has told judges at the Court of Session that a group who have been camping outside Holyrood are Jedi sent to Earth by God.

Richard McFarlane appeared at the court in Edinburgh with fellow campaigners hoping to win the right to appeal to the Supreme Court over their right to camp in protest for Scottish independence outside the Scottish Parliament.

The camp was evicted in November after a lengthy legal battle with Holyrood authorities.

Parliamentary authorities are pursuing the protesters for legal costs of around £100,000.

Mr McFarlane appeared in court wearing a T-shirt with the phrase "Yer no' getting paid, independence through the jubilee not the EU".

Speaking before the judges refused to grant leave to appeal, Mr McFarlane said: "We, the Jedi of the Stone of Destiny, came here in peace sent by God with a message of peace for Scotia, British Israel and the rest of the planet.

"How could you possibly be opposed to Christ on his second coming unless you are criminally insane and working for Satan?"

During his appearance at the court, Mr McFarlane also described the European Union as "a Babylonian dictatorship of evil".

Martin Keatings, a spokesman for the group, told judges Lady Dorrian, Lord Menzies and Lord Glennie that they would take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

"We'll take it to Strasbourg; we'll scream, we'll shout," said Mr Keatings before suddenly stopping his submission and announcing he was leaving.

His exit was slowed down due to having to pack his briefcase and wait for his fellow campaigners to move out of his way.