Tension is rising as activists continue to stop housing redevelopment at a former Middlesex university campus.

Campaigners at the former Cat Hill campus, on the border of Enfield and Barnet, have stood their ground since February 4, 2013.

Their battle against the 231 homes being redeveloped by London and Quadrant (L&Q) now stretches back more than four years.

L&Q had attempted to fence off a wooded area that  is being protected by the activists early this morning, which resulted in the police being called.

Campaigner Kim Coleman rushed to the scene. She said: “I have said this all along that I will fight this to the bitter end.”

Jean Higgs, 85, of Mansfield Road, was appalled and chained herself to a fence with a bicycle lock.

She said: “L&Q are not an ethical company as we wanted to show them that we are still fighting on. It [chaining herself to a fence] was meant as a joke but at the same time it showed we are not giving up.

“Some of those trees are hundreds of years old and are simply irreplaceable, we cannot let them disappear.”

An L&Q spokesperson said: “The presence of unauthorised people on this active construction site is an inherent risk to their health and safety and risks delaying the creation of much-needed new homes.

“The protesters’ campsite also risks damaging an area that is protected by Natural England guidelines. Our own contractors have full permission to go about their work on this land that we own, following detailed authorisation given by the planning authorities and Natural England.”

L&Q are hoping to remove the protesters from the site and is due to be heard at Barnet County Court later this month.

The campaigners will be giving their evidence to the court tomorrow.