A judge has praised Occupy protesters after they agreed to dismantle their camp on Exeter’s Cathedral Green and clean up the area within five days.

The owners of an office building overlooking the cathedral have also won the right to expel protesters after the judge rejected a claim it would breach their human rights.

The Cathedral Church of St Peter in England won a possession order against around 20 protesters during a case at Exeter County Court yesterday. The company which owns Number 18 Cathedral Yard was also granted an immediate possession order by district judge Stephen Arnold.

The Cathedral Green was occupied in October as part of a worldwide protest against banks and big business. The camp grew to around 20 tents by the end of last month but has now shrunk to just a handful.

There was a 10-strong police presence at the hearing in the Exeter Crown Court building and only six of the Cathedral Green group were allowed in to the chamber. The remaining 15, some of whom were in fancy dress including a clown and a cat, waited outside and clapped their representatives after the case.

Judge Arnold told them: “You bring credit on your cause by the responsible way you have respected these proceedings and conducted yourselves.

“No-one could doubt the significance of the issues you promote or the sincerity and passion with which you do so. However, it is not for this court to venture into such matters. These proceedings could not be defended in law and I am obliged to make the order for possession forthwith.”

The judge allowed permission for Occupy supporter Mr Ghee Bowman to make a statement. He said: “We have had considerable support during the 12 weeks. We are acting in the interests of the 99 per cent of the population who are economically and financially under the thumb of the one per cent who control the economic system.

In the separate case concerning the former solicitors’ offices at 18 Cathedral Yard the owner’s solicitor Mr Mark Shell successfully won and an eviction order after arguing the protesters’ claim that removal would damage their human right to a home.

After the case representatives of both groups said they would be leaving peacefully.

A spokesman said: “Our society is a mess but the mess is usually hidden away from sight and there are far worse messes in Exeter than the Green. The camp is over but the idea goes on."

Our society is a mess but the mess is usually hidden away from sight and there are far worse messes in Exeter than the Green. The camp is over but the idea goes on.