AN Australian has denied causing a public nuisance by halting by the Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

Self-proclaimed anti-elitist Trenton Oldfield has appeared at Isleworth Crown Court, west London, today and pleaded not guilty to the offence.

It comes after the boatrace was halted on April 7 after Oldfield, of Myrdle Street, east London, was spotted swimming in the Thames.

He will now stand trial on September 24.

Until then, stringent bail conditions mean the anti-elitist is effectively banned from going anywhere near the Diamond Jubilee or Olympic events, the Henley Royal Regatta in late June and early July or Royal Ascot in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in late June.

Judge Anna Guggenheim QC told him he must not go within 100 metres of any road used for the passage of the Olympic torch during the relay, nor within 100 metres of any Olympic venue during the Games.

He is also barred from entering the City of Westminster on days when Jubilee events are taking place in June and during the Trooping of the Colour, nor can he enter the City of London on June 16, when a service takes place at St Paul's Cathedral.

To keep him away from the Jubilee river pageant, he was told he cannot go within 100 metres of the Thames on June 2 and 3.

Cambridge won the race after it re-started.