Animal rights protesters were demonstrating outside the Oxford University Encaenia honorary degree ceremony today.

Six people, including author Philip Pullman, are receiving degrees from the university as part of its annual honorary degree ceremony.

Encaenia ceremonies have previously attracted protests from animal rights campaigners angry at the building of an experimental laboratory in South Parks Road.

They chanted throughout the ceremony: “Shame on Oxford University,” as well as holding banners and handing out flyers with graphic images on them.

The university had an injunction placed on the protesters in a bid to stop them.

Emma Speed, 41, who was among them, said: “It has considerably restricted our ability to campaign. We therefore have to take every opportunity to spread our message.”