Dan Glass, of the climate change pressure group Plane Stupid, tried the stunt at a Downing Street reception.

As Mr Glass, 24, was introduced to the Premier, he laid a glue-covered hand on his sleeve, reports the Daily Mail.

He also took the opportunity to urge Mr Brown to change his mind on the Heathrow airport expansion.

Mr Glass told the assembled guests: "Do not worry - this is a non-violent protest. We cannot shake away climate change like you can just shake away my arm."

Mr Glass, who had smuggled pouches of glue into the event in his underwear, added later that Mr Brown laughed off the protest.

"He was just grinning about it," he said. "He didn't seem to take me seriously."

Mr Glass, an invited guest, was allowed to stay at the reception for 40 minutes after the stunt. When he left, he tried to glue himself to the gates of Downing Street but had his hand detached by a police officer.

"I didn't have much glue left by that point," he admitted.