London: Students at a prestigious Oxford University college have rallied around a kabab seller after college authorities forced him to move, complaining of smell.

Saeid Keshmiri, 62, had been supplying Christ Church students with kababs, chips and burgers from his 'Sid's Kitchen' van, strategically positioned at the college entrance, for the last 15 years.

Open from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., he was popular among students working late as well as stragglers, but was forced to move his business - run from a van - 180 metres away after a row with the college.

Christ Church argued that the smell of the food was off-putting to students trying to sleep nearby and also encouraged drunken revelers, the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

It applied to Oxford City Council's licensing committee to revoke his licence but his van has instead been moved 200 yards (180 metres) further down the road in a compromise agreement.

Despite the university's concern, students supported Keshmiri, the paper said, quoting one as saying: "He's got as much right to be here as anyone else. I always enjoy a kabab and chips after a hard night's studying."

Keshmiri insisted he was providing a useful service, saying: "For 15 years we have been serving people including the students. They come down and get a baked potato when studying at night. They are quite happy we are here."

An Oxford University spokesman said: "The van is outside the college seven nights a week and the smell lingers on long after it has left for the night." IANS