Roads protesters climbed on to the roof of Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre to highlight their opposition to plans to widen Park End Street.

The five protesters hung two banners from the balcony round the dome of the Sheldonian, which was finished in 1669 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who was also the architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Protester 'Dave', who was handing out leaflets to passers-by in Broad Street yesterday, said: "It was very easy to get up there. All we did was go up to the level where the dome is and climb out of a window.

"We chose the Sheldonian because it's a big building and it's bound to get noticed and it's a listed building."

He and the others occupying the disused, grade II listed London Midland and Scottish (LMS) railway building in Park End Street, oppose plans to move it to Quainton railway centre in Buckinghamshire. Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council want the building shifted so that Park End Street can be widened - something they argue is vital to the Oxford Transport Strategy. Part of the site will also be used for Oxford University's new £45m Said Business School. Insp Chris Back, of Oxford police, said:there were no immediate plans to try and get the protesters down from the Sheldonian.

"We're going to play it by ear. "It's fairly peaceful and while they may have committed a civil offence of trespass they haven't committed a crime. They say they are secure up there and hopefully they are," he added.

The three-month occupation of the LMS building could be coming to a close. Oxford University was due to seek a possession order today in the High Court and if successful will be arranging to evict the squatters - who have vowed to make the eviction as difficult and expensive as possible.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.