THE message was clear – hands off our playing field.

Parents and pupils at North Kidlington Primary School organised a protest when they realised that part of the play area was under threat.

An 80-strong group besieged the Cherwell District Council offices at Waverley House, Bicester, to make their views known.

Developers were planning to extend the shopping precinct and car park at Curtis Place, Kidlington – a project which would have encroached on the green space outside the school.

In the picture above, seven-year-old Benjamin Williams is seen handing over a petition signed by him and his fellow pupils to planning committee chairman Victor Duclos.

In a letter to Mr Duclos, parents said they were opposed to parking on land next to the school because it was “an essential teaching and recreational facility”.

They said the school had more than 400 children on a restricted site.

Parking nearby would pose a hazard to the children as well as creating noise and pollution, they argued.

The letter also questioned the need for parking for commuting office workers at the expense of children who lived in the village.

Dr David Thurling, chairman of governors, said: “The school is very overcrowded and desperately needs continued use of this piece of land for the children’s recreation.”

The council’s south area planning committee refused permission, much to the delight of the objectors.

But a revised scheme was later submitted – and the developers won the day.