Student environmental activists attempted to swim down an Oxford street in protest at global warming.

Members of the Oxford 'Switch To Green' Coalition, staged the protest in Broad Street, to draw attention to their campaign, calling on Oxford University to use renewable energy sources.

Students pretended to paddle down the already damp street in an illustration of the possible effects of sea-level rises brought about by the climate changes caused by burning fossil fuels.

Group spokesman Edward Davey, a 20-year-old student at Brasenose College, said: "It was a peaceful demonstration about clean electricity.

"We are trying to get the university to switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources of electricity such as wind, solar and hydro-electric power."

The second-year French and Spanish undergraduate added: "The university has a moral responsibility to make the switch, and we are sure the students of Oxford would be willing to pay the extra."

Saturday's protest followed a number of university initiatives aimed at improving its environmental credentials, including a commitment to reduce carbon emissions, and to meet any increase in its electricity requirements by purchasing from green sources or by generating electricity from renewable sources on site.