Protesters evicted from boatyard

Campaigners such as Philip Pullman have tried to save the boatyard

Protestors fighting to stop the redevelopment of a city boatyard have been evicted by bailiffs from the site.

Campaigners had been illegally living in the Castle Mill Boatyard in Jericho, Oxford, despite a court order secured by British Waterways to move them on.

The company, which backs plans to build housing, new public space and a bridge at the site, took possession on Wednesday morning.

A spokesman said about two dozen protestors left the site.

'Wiped out'

Eugene Baston, of British Waterways, said on Wednesday morning: "I'm pleased to say that the eviction has taken place and people are leaving peacefully either by boat or by the front gate. It's all been done by a process of negotiation."

Author Philip Pullman has been campaigning to save the boatyard.

He said: "It's lovely to walk along this towpath and see this curious little site - these wonky old buildings, these rickety-looking stables that have been here for 100 years.

"But people use them and work them and it's a useful place. Ordinary, valuable daily work is carried on and now it's just being wiped out."

The bailiffs cut locks boaters had used to barricade themselves into the site, erected fences along the canalside and began removing eight boats from hard standing with the help of cranes.