Animal rights protesters pushed the legal limits as far as they could in support of colleagues taking part in a large demonstration in Oxford on Saturday.

Several hundred supporters of Speak, the organisation fighting the completion of Oxford University's new biomedical research laboratory in South Parks Road, held up traffic as they marched through the city centre.

Meanwhile Speak spokesman Mel Broughton and 19 other leading activists banned from protesting within the city under court bail conditions, held protests at locations around Oxford ring road.

Although Mr Broughton, who has spoken at several rallies over the past two years, was unable to join protesters as they gathered in heavy rain at Oxpens, a statement was read out to the crowd. Roads policing officers, mounted police and officers with cameras recording the scene accompanied the march.

Many onlookers were critical of the disruption the march caused.

Oxford City Bus Company driver, Ken Randall, 50, of Boundary Brook, who was delayed into taking his coach to London, said: "I don't agree with experiments on animals, but there are better ways of protesting than upsetting everyone's way of life."