Fran Cornwell, of Porlock Lane, Furzton, is among a 16 members of an organisation called Speak who are on trial at Oxford Crown Court accused of failing to comply with conditions imposed by Thames Valley Police at the demonstration against the building of an animal testing laboratory.

The defendants, who each wore identical t-shirts bearing a picture of a primate called Felix behind bars, could not all fit in the dock for the start of their month-long trial.

All are pleading not guilty.

Cornwell, aged 59, denies additional charges of assaulting a police officer and inciting other campaigners to breach police conditions.

District Judge Deborah Wright was told up to 50 protestors gathered in Oxford city centre on June 21 last year.

Senior police, who had been liaising with the group, became concerned there was a risk of a breach of the peace as demonstrators became increasingly noisy and allegedly caused a disruption.

The protest against the building of the leading university's lab at Halifax House was taking place on the historic Senior Day Ceremony when the city was packed with dignitaries and tourists.

Gareth Branston, prosecuting, said police asked the group to move from Hartford College to a more suitable location at Martyrs Memorial.

He said: "The police said that no more than 50 placard-waving protestors could take part, it could last only three hours and the campaigners would have to walk continuously along a certain route to get there. Members of the group began to sit down."

Another defendant, Mel Broughton, began to tell and gesture to other protestors to stand their ground and protestors sat down after he spoke to them.

"The protestors made it clear to the police they were not complying with the conditions imposed. It is the Crown's case these conditions were lawfully imposed."

Mr Branston added officers moved in to arrest particular individuals and were allegedly obstructed in their duty.

One was assaulted.

Case continues.