Animal rights campaigners are appealing to Oxford councillors to halts plans for horse-drawn carriage rides in the city.

Animal Aid, the UK's largest animal rights group, is opposing a by-law that would allow Hook Norton-based Oxford Shires to run a shire horse-drawn carriage, mainly for tourists.

The service, similar to ones operated in many tourist towns on the continent, would operate in pedestrianised areas including High Street, which is closed to traffic apart from taxis and buses during the day.

The city council's highways committee looks set to approve the by-law on Thursday (June 21).

David McDowell, a vet acting for the RSPCA, said in a letter to the council he did not think the shire horses would come to any harm.

He wrote: "It is my belief that most horses enjoy, and benefit from regular work, provided this is not too prolonged or arduous. For two large horses, drawing an omnibus in a reasonably flat area like Oxford should present no problem."

Animal Aid, however, which has representatives in the UK and USA, says horses drawing carriages in New York sometimes suffer serious injuries.

Equine vet Holly Cheever said there were serious concerns about what might happen if the horses bolted.

"It would be insane for Oxford City Council to pass a by-law that would endanger its citizens and may lead to huge liability costs for the city," she said.

Sarah Withey, who runs Oxford Shires, denied that the shire horses would be harmed.