Students standing up for gay rights held a demonstration outside an Oxford University college.

The demo was held outside Exeter College after Christian organisation the Wilberforce Academy booked conference facilities at the college.

Students raised concerns about the academy’s connection to evangelical pressure group Christian Concern and the latter group’s views on homosexuality.

Ross Brooks, inset, the author of the guide Queer Oxford, said: “The issue that people are protesting about is the tacit support that the university is giving these anti-gay lobbyists by hosting their private activities.”

Rector of Exeter College Frances Cairncross said: “As soon as it was raised as a potential issue, the Bursar wrote to the academy to emphasise our position on equal rights and sought and obtained assurances that nothing in the meeting would be against our policies.”

Christian Concern director Andrea Williams said: “Our whole motivation is one of love for God and the individual. The Bible is quite clear that the only place for sexual expression is within marriage between a man and a woman.”