An Oxford pharmaceutical lab which put up a spiked security fence to keep out animal rights protesters may be ordered to take it down.

Yamanouchi, at Littlemore, is under pressure from the animal rights lobby over claims that it is a customer of Huntingdon Life Sciences in Cambridge, Europe's largest animal testing laboratory.

The perceived link provoked a 600-strong demonstration outside the firm's Armstrong Road base on August 11.

The firm put up spikes along a wall at the back of the research institute to deter intruders, and now wants to extend them.

But the city council has refused a retrospective planning application and the firm may have to take down these security spikes.

The matter will now be the subject of a planning appeal decided by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

The firm has been given until October 3 to put its case to Mr Byers. No date has been set for a hearing on the appeal.

Police and demonstrators clashed at the rally, and a number of people suffered minor injuries.

City planning officer Lyn Lawrence said the decision to refuse the application had been made by officers under delegated powers.

A spokesman for Yamanouchi would not comment on any link with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

He said the manufacturer of the anti-climb guard had told the firm they would not need planning permission for it.

He added: "This is a very straight forward matter of security following these demonstrations. The anti-climb guard is fitted to the top of a 130ft-long stone wall, which is at the back of the premises. It has sharp metal blades at the top which could cut anyone trying to climb over it.

"The planning officers told us permission was being refused for aesthetic reasons.

"They believe the guard would spoil the look of the place."