Ramblers are pledging to fight BMW in court over its plans to close an ancient pathway through the Oxford car plant.

The Cowley factory has lodged a bid to close a bridleway and Roman Way, which runs through the middle of the plant, and build a replacement, longer path and cycleway along the Eastern Bypass, at a cost of £500,000.

Managers fear allowing walkers to use the historic 1,200 metre right of way through the plant is dangerous and causes a security headache.

The path's future will be decided at a magistrates' court hearing and, despite the financial disparity, local ramblers have promised to fight the motoring giant all the way.

Chris Hall, chairman of the Oxfordshire area Ramblers Association, said: "At the moment the path offers a short and easy way out of East Oxford and Blackbird Leys into the Green Belt. What BMW is proposing is a longer route along the Eastern Bypass. We don't see the necessity.

"It's been there since before Bill Morris founded the plant and as far as I'm aware there's never been a security problem. It's a matter of convenience for them.

"BMW are choosing the method by which they are most likely to succeed and we will be endeavouring to defeat them.

"But there is a big disparity because they have more money than us."

A survey by BMW revealed that 90 per cent of the 40 pedestrians and cyclists who use the path each day are factory employees.

Ramblers propose to collect their own evidence about use of the bridleway before the case goes to court.

BMW has spent the past five years researching ways to close the path and is now launching informal public consultation.

It wants to preserve part of the path in Watlington Road as a staff entrance.

Project coordinator Terry Hanley said the existing path was unecessary and unsafe.

He said: "In terms of security we can't stop people walking through the site as long as they stay on the bridleway.

"Safety is also an issue because if you are walking through the site there are a lot of trucks coming and going."