Campaigners for a 'peace plaque' near Oxford's Carfax Tower have been rebuffed by Oxfordshire County Council.

Retired priest David Partridge raised £1,300 for the plaque and looked to have secured powerful backing on Oxford City Council.

But his plan for the pavement plaque to honour Oxford's peace campaigners has fallen victim to County Hall's anti-clutter policy.

Mr Partridge, a former Royal Marines Commando, spent four years battling for the plaque in Cornmarket, site of numerous peace vigils.

The aim was to recognise conscientious objectors over the past century, including present day protesters against the Iraq war.

But the county council, as the highways authority, will strongly resist the plan.

David Robertson, cabinet member for transport, said the council's policy has always been to oppose plaques on public highways to avoid clutter.

He said: "Otherwise it would be very difficult for us to decide where to draw the line. We would be getting requests of all kinds.

"Our policy is to try to de-clutter the city centre, not to add to it.

"I think the only time we have allowed a plaque was after the fatal accident on the Eastern Bypass."

Mr Partridge, 70, of Ambleside Drive, Headington, said he is not giving up without a fight and is to meet Oxford Lord Mayor Jim Campbell.

The Lord Mayor earlier said: "The idea of a plaque is a very good one, but I would not want this to become a confrontational issue."

Alan Armitage, who holds the healthier environment portfolio on the city council, also expressed enthusiasm, saying: "Sometimes we need to be reminded that we should not take peace for granted, but we may find that with something like this we are in the hands of bureaucrats."

A £1,000 donation towards the plaque was made by Paul Greening who, until recently, worked for the United Nations in Afghanistan.

The plaque would carry the inscription: "To honour those of any faith or conviction who in conscience reject warfare and violence and seek another path."