Squatters who took over an 19th-century Oxford vicarage have left.

Ten homeless people moved into the St John's vicarage, in Vicarage Road, New Hinksey, on November 9. The house had been empty since the summer when the vicar retired.

The squatters received a stay of execution when Oxford County Court ruled last month they should be allowed to stay until the New Year.

Churchwarden Bill Warburton expressed his relief that they had moved out, and said the parish was looking forward to renovating the vicarage in preparation for their next vicar, who they hoped would be appointed soon.

Mr Warburton said the church was hoping to divide the vicarage, which is now boarded up, into two homes, one for the incoming vicar.