Animal rights campaigners planning a big protest at Witney tomorrow will be stopped from reaching Hillgrove Farm.

Police will impose an exclusion zone around the cat breeding farm but say protesters can stage a peaceful rally on playing fields off Ducklington Lane.

Organisers of the Save the Hillgrove Cats campaign say hundreds of protesters will take part in the demonstration.

Asst Chief Constable Paul West said: "We will do all we can to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. I would urge the residents of Witney to be patient. "None of our requests to the protesters have been replied to and yet again we are faced with yet another example of their total lack of co-operation," said Mr West.

Heather James, of the Save the Hillgrove Cats Campaign, said: "We want to protest outside Hillgrove Farm because that is where the cruelty is. I don't think people will be happy about meeting on a playing field.

"Police have said this before about us not talking to them but as far as I am concerned the police are not even interested in us holding a peaceful protest, they want to break up the campaign so we can't see the point in talking to them."

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