Work restarted today on Oxford University's controversial new animal research laboratory 16 months after contractors fled in fear.

Building ground to a halt on the £18m lab in South Parks Road in July 2004, after the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) targeted contractors, including Montpellier Ltd and RMC. But today the university announced work had resumed, although no-one associated with the building work on the project has been revealed.

The unit brings together all animal experiments -- on live monkeys, rodents, amphibians and fish -- under one roof.

Oxford University's registrar David Holmes said: "The university remains firmly committed to the completion of this building, which is part of an ongoing programme of replacing and updating existing laboratory space.

"The new biomedical research building will provide world-class facilities, reflecting the university's commitment to animal welfare and to scientific progress.

"Completing the project will be good for animal welfare, good for medical research and good for the treatment of life-threatening conditions all over the world."

Before the project stalled last year, builders received threatening letters warning them: "Do business with any part of Oxford University at your peril."