By Jackie Storer BBC News Online political staff

Canvassing on the streets of Oxford is a challenge for most political parties.

Being a Green Party candidate in a city dominated by students who notoriously have left leaning views makes it no easier.

I shall vote Green just because I don't think that human society should be the number one over-riding priority

David Wall Student

The streets are humming with tourists - many foreign - at all hours of the day. Workers bustle past in their lunch hour trying to avoid the canvassers' eye.

Mothers are too preoccupied with their off-spring. Those that do stop as woolly-haired Green candidate Mike Woodin makes his approach, are invariably from out of town.

When Mr Woodin, 36, a candidate in the elections, and a teacher in psychology at Balliol College, finally does grab a semi-interested punter, he is from Belgium and states that it is unlikely he will vote Green.

Belgian Jean Crombois, a post doctoral fellow in modern history at Balliol College, said he was thinking about voting Liberal Democrat.

Balance of power

But this does not stop Mr Woodin. Finally after seven or eight goes, he finds not only someone who will talk to him but that much sort after prize - a Green voter.

In between mouthfuls of his sandwich, laid-back David Wall, 22, says, in ideological fashion: "I shall vote Green just because I don't think that human society should be the number one over-riding priority.

"There is the whole thing about green fields being taken and used for housing estates.

I would say we are very, very strongly hopeful to win in at least four more wards

Paul Ingram Green Party

"I voted Green in the last local election, although I voted Liberal Democrat in the General Election," adds the English student from Oxford.

Votes from people like Mr Wall are important. Oxford has seven Green councillors - the biggest number in the country at district level - in administration with the Liberal Democrats.

Stable government

Paul Ingram, the city council's deputy leader and group representative, is confident his party will make significant gains on 2 May.

"I would say we are very, very strongly hopeful to win in at least four more wards," he said.

The Greens claim their "marriage" with the Liberal Democrats has been a success, following the ousting of Labour into opposition.

"Before there was very little management at all. It was being allowed to bumble along," said Mr Ingram.

Canvassing is easier on the doorstep than in the street

"All the officers in the city council were quite nervous in the first few months that we wouldn't survive for very long.

"It became quite clear that we were providing significant stability.

"I think it has been quite effective. It has demonstrated that parties can get on together and provide a framework for positive change.

Radical solutions

"There have been differences, but none of those have ever threatened the stability of the administration."

The Green Party has been promoting its policies in Oxford for more than 10 years.

It is proud to see large swathes of the city pedestrianised, although members grumble that in places like Broad Street, which is half cars, half pavement, there is room to go further.

We are very sympathetic towards squatters because we see them using a resource which is being left empty

Paul Ingram Green Party

"Oxford does have more than its fair share of traffic problems and the Green Party has radical and relatively simple solutions to those problems while other parties find it difficult," said Mr Ingram.

But pointing at Broad Street, he is more frustrated: "This is one of the finest streets anywhere in Europe and part of it is a car park."

The Greens claim they are concerned that the Oxford economy is over-heating and there is insufficient affordable housing.

"Building more houses is not the right response," said Mr Ingram.

"The right response is to negotiate with national government to ensure that regeneration is effective in other parts of the country to reverse the trend of people moving to south east."

"We have had several campaigns to bring back into use empty properties.

"We are very sympathetic towards squatters because we see them using a resource which is being left empty."

The Greens are hoping to achieve measures including a reduction in the number of rough sleepers, sound council management and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.