PROTESTERS are in St Michael's Street, Oxford, ahead of tonight's Marine Le Pen talk at Oxford Union. 

The leader of the right-wing French National Front party, the third largest in France, was set to speak at the Oxford Union at 6pm. 

Members of Oxford Unite Against Fascism, which sent an open letter signed by more than 850 people to the union to rescind its invitation, are outside. 

Our reporter at the scene said about 200 people are there with banners saying 'Le Pen...never again'. 

She said police officers were at the protest but there were no problems. 

Some protestors had brought along young children, who joined in waving banners and chanting.

Students were seen trying to place homemade banners on railings in front of the Union.

However, hundreds of people were queuing to get into the talk.

One student in the queue, Ping Shen, 25, said: "I am here because I am very interested in free speech."

She added that people had the right to protest against the talk, but she believed that the Union should be a platform for free speech.

Protester Colette Levy, who survived the Holocaust as a child, said: "I am here because of my history. I was a hidden child [a child given a false identity for protection] in the Second World War.

"My father was killed in a concentration, most likely Auschwitz and we know Marine Le Pen represents a fascist movement. It's shameful."

Our top stories

Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.