A BID to have the Castle Mill student flats reduced in height through Oxford University’s “parliament” has been thrown out by dons.

Critics said the blocks blight views of Oxford’s historic skyline and a report also found some 22 views had been damaged by them.

Last month a motion was put to the university’s parliament, Congregation, to take the top floor off six of the eight Roger Dudman Way buildings, but was voted down out by a margin of 326 votes.

But Congregation is comprised of about 4,500 senior figures from the university, most of whom were not present, and so supporters of the motion called a postal ballot.

The Oxford Mail has learned tonight that the final count is 1,698 votes against and 460 for.

The motion to reduce the flats in height was put forward by TV historian and Professor of the History of the Church, Diarmaid MacCulloch and was backed by a group of heavyweight academics, as well as the Save Port Meadow campaign.

Last month after losing the first vote, in the Sheldonian Theatre, the campaigners dismissed the vote and said they would carry on seeking a height reduction regardless.

Mr MacCulloch said: "There is near-universal agreement that the Castle Mill development is an aesthetic disaster, and the central authorities have been compelled to start making apologies."