Students at Magdalen College have boycotted their canteen after new meal charges were announced.

Currently students pay £4 per meal, but once the changes come into force they will have to pay a compulsory fee of up to £150 a year to cover kitchen costs plus another fee of up to £150 per term which can be used to purchase food.

This has lead to a boycott by the Magdalen College Junior Common Room (JCR), with claims it would hit students from poorer backgrounds.

A soup kitchen, based on voluntary donations, has been set up in students’ kitchens.

David J Townsend, president of Oxford University Students’ Union, said he was supporting the boycott.

He said: “A hall strike, coupled with dining at friends’ colleges, is a good way of showing that students have serious concerns about the financial accessibility of college life which aren’t being heeded.

“It’s particularly commendable that current students, who will not be subject to the increased charge, are taking up this issue on behalf of future students. We stand behind Magdalen JCR, and are ready to assist any other common room in similar negotiations.”

There are 360 undergraduates at Magdalen College, but it was last night unclear how many of them were taking part in the boycott.

The bursar of Magdalen College was unavailable for comment.