St Paul's camp stays despite legal threat

The 24-hour eviction notice brought against protesters camping outside St Paul's Cathedral passed yesterday evening without a single activist leaving, as lawyers acting for the demonstrators announced they were taking the case to the High Court.

In contrast to the violent scuffles in New York, the battle over the Occupy London protest is set to be a legal one played out with barristers rather than batons.

John Cooper QC and lawyer Karen Todner addressed the protesters in front of the cathedral, pledging to act together in making sure the camp's interests would be "fearlessly defended".

Ms Todner, the managing director of Kaim Todner Solicitors, who will be working pro bono for the group, said that a preliminary hearing could be held on Wednesday, but a full hearing could still be some time away. That chimed with the mood among the tents, where activists began discussing whether to put up Christmas decorations in anticipation of rebelling against the City of London Corporation well into the winter.