CAMPAIGNERS against the proposed high speed Rail link between London and the West Midlands took to the streets outside Parliament yesterday.

They were protesting in London to mark the final session of a Transport Select Committee inquiry into the £33bn scheme, known as HS2.

The proposed route passes through the north east edge of Oxfordshire, and residents have launched a campaign of opposition.

A nine-foot tall STOP HS2 inflatable white elephant, pictured, was paraded outside Parliament by the protesters.

Anthea Hartley, from Buckinghamshire, said: “The white elephant caused quite a stir as it was carried along the streets of Westminster, many passers-by inquired about what HS2 stood for – which further demonstrated how few members of the general public are still unaware of the Governments proposed spending of £33bn of public money on this white elephant of a project.”

In August Oxfordshire County Council joined a group of local authorities opposing the Government’s plan.

The proposed route will cut across the north-east corner of Oxfordshire between Finmere and Mixbury. It follows the line of the disused Great Central Railway, which closed in 1966.

Results of public consultation, which finished in July, are due later this year.