These gorillas were not just aping around - they were making a serious point about a threat to small businesses in East Oxford.

Residents and traders who live and work near The Plain roundabout were protesting this week against the opening of a 35-seater Subway restaurant in St Clement's.

The demonstration took place on Tuesday to coincide with a meeting at Oxford City Council, which refused to allow the sandwich shop to stay open until 3am.

Instead, it will be able to serve customers only until midnight.

Protest leader Erica Steinhauer also believes the store, which has taken over the site previously occupied by Pronto Print, should have had to apply for a change of use under planning law.

Planning officers said that, because both businesses were classified as A1 type retailing, change of use permission was not necessary.

Ms Steinhauer, who runs the Bead Games shop in Cowley Road, has been running a year-long campaign to preserve the character of the city end of the street.

She said: "Parts of the road further east have become increasingly popular with people looking for evening entertainment.

"We just wanted to bring attention to something that concerns both residents and traders in the area. They appear to have been able to open a 35-seater cafe without a change of use in planning.

"If they get away with that, they can do here what they have done to the top of the Cowley Road, which has nine kebab shops."

Green Party city councillor Elise Benjamin said: "We are committed to supporting local businesses and keeping the local economy strong, so we are generally concerned about large multinationals moving in.

"We are also concerned to make sure planning regulations are not breached, because that would set a dangerous precedent."

Oxford Subway operator Dipak Patel said franchisees tried to work closely with local communities. He did not think the store would affect existing businesses.