Members of the British Horse Society rode into town today to protest against BMW's closure of a bridleway.

At Witney Magistrates' Court last month, the company won permission to close the Roman Way bridleway, which run through its Mini plant at Cowley.

The British Horse Society and Ramblers Association were ordered to pay £47,500 in legal costs and yesterday Horse Society members lobbied the county council meeting over the £29,700 bill which the society has to pay the county council.

Mark Weston, the BHS's director of access, safety and welfare, said: "The two charities were merely protecting the public's rights and should not be penalised."

The British Horse Society is now calling for the county council to allow horses to use an alternative path and cycle route, which runs from Garsington Road to the Eastern bypass.

Keith Mitchell, leader of the council, said the British Horse Society had a turnover of £5m a year, so could afford to pay.

He added: "It would be wrong to waive the costs and leave the taxpayer footing the bill."