St Paul's Protesters Ignore Deadline To Leave

A deadline for protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral to pack up and leave within 24 hours has passed without one person moving.

On Wednesday the City of London Corporation told the anti-capitalist demonstrators to move their tents off the public highway by 6pm on Thursday or face High Court action.

But instead of dismantling tents this afternoon, the Occupy London Stock Exchange protesters were said to be discussing putting up Christmas decorations.

A spokesman for the camp said he was not aware of anyone leaving the site.

At 6pm protesters marked the corporation's deadline by holding a 'silent scream', where they raised their hands in silence for one minute in a gesture of solidarity.

Nathan Cravens, 27, who runs the camp library, said: "The general feeling is excitement at the moment. It's brought us together."

He said there is "concern" among protesters at the camp, but the overall emotion was "positive": "For me, I'll leave the day they say they're going to evict."

The Corporation has expressed concern over "worrying trends" at the camp, including late-night drinking, and said companies near the cathedral had complained about losing business.

A spokeswoman for St Paul's - which has abandoned its own proposed legal action - said it was looking for a "peaceful resolution" but admitted it had faced "challenges" since the camp was pitched a month ago.

The Corporation's notices were attached to tents on Wednesday afternoon.

They said: "If any tents and other structures remain after 6pm on Thursday 17 November 2011, proceedings for possession and injunctions will be issued in the High Court of Justice without further notice.

"If granted, this would mean that you would be ordered by the High Court to remove the tents and any failure to do so could be a contempt of court."

The Corporation said they decided to resume legal action after two weeks of talks with protesters "got nowhere".

Eviction proceedings are expected to start on Friday morning with a High Court hearing due to take place next week.