WITH just a tent to protect them from the elements, these students have spent the past two nights on the streets of Oxford.

But the seven-strong group were not protesting at proposed hikes in tuition fees, or raising awareness of Oxford’s huge homeless population.

Instead these Oxford University students were hoping to snap up the best student houses in the city.

In what has become an annual tradition, students start queueing outside North Oxford Property Services, in Walton Street, the night before the annual list of Jericho properties is released.

The area has become among the most desirable areas to live in the city, particularly for students, and the tradition has been upheld for about 20 years.

Armed with laptops, stereo speakers and tucking into sandwiches, sheltered by an awning, the first of the students settled down at 6.30am on Monday – two full days before the list is released at 9am today.

Third year Earth Sciences student Lily Muller, 20, was among the first to line up along the street. She said she learned about the tradition by viewing YouTube clips posted by the letting agent.

She said: “Two terrible nights is worth it for a decent house. A lot of people who walk past assume we are protesting about something.

“Some people think it is a bit stupid, but it is a matter of how far you’re prepared to go.”

Queuing partner Josh Hopgood added: “There is a house which we have got our eye on which luckily no-one else seems to be after.

“Luckily there doesn’t seem to be any competition between us for houses.”

In the past, because of the demand for property in Jericho, the housing list for the popular area has traditionally been released in January, two months after other houses around the city.

Earlier this year, when the Jericho properties were released and students endured snow showers at North Oxford Property Services, staff dished out bacon butties, hot drinks, and brought a gazebo for shelter.

But for the first time this year the company has combined Jericho with other areas in the city in a bid to make the system fairer.

Director Debbie Swailes said the first student through the door would not only got the pick of the bunch but also Champagne.

She admitted the publicity the tradition attracted was good for business and added: “We can’t stop them from doing it so we have been providing them with food and drinks.”