After months of legal battles and eviction orders, things are at last looking up for campaigners fighting for an Oxford boatyard.

Yesterday, two of the boaters from the Castle Mill boatyard in Jericho met managers from British Waterways, the owners of the land, to discuss how best to provide community boating facilities after the site is sold.

Protesters have been occupying the site since last August in an attempt to prevent its development.

They know they face eviction some time before June 6, but are now hopeful of arriving at a solution.

The site - which is up for sale for about £4m - will only be handed over to the future owners once it has been vacated.

The protesters have always maintained that if an alternative site is found for them to carry out essential maintenance work to their boats, they will leave the Castle Mill boatyard.

Campaigners John Keyes and Mike Hamblett met two regional managers from British Waterways yesterday and visited a site where DIY repair facilities could be carried out.

Mr Keyes said: "We feel we have turned a corner. We are proceeding with caution, but we have been talking about how best to work in partnership with British Waterways to find a solution.

"It was definitely a positive and stimulating meeting.

"It does not change the fact there is an eviction order against us. We have always said that if alternative boating services are provided and the boating community is satisfied, then an eviction won't be necessary and now we feel we are nearer to that conclusion.

"We are pretty close to reaching a resolution. We are now proceeding with cautious optimism. We want to make sure eviction is not an option. The boaters have risked their homes to make this point."

British Waterways said it was now making a "positive commitment" to investigating an alternative site but could not guarantee a successful outcome.

A spokesman said: "We will make up to £10,000 available to facilitate any necessary investigative and/or physical remedial works.

"For such an arrangement to be reached, boaters would have to form some sort of legally definable association to take responsibility for the site.

"As a result of this firm commitment, it is absolutely crucial that the occupiers of the Castle Mill site take steps to vacate without delay."