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London occupiers plan to stay outside St. Paul's Cathedral

The Associated Press Published Thursday, November 17, 2011 12:24PM EST

The Right Reverend Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, center, and Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, The Right Reverend Graham Knowles, left, meet a select group from the Occupy London movement in 'the tea tent' at St Paul's before addressing protesters on the steps of the cathedral Sunday Oct. 30, 2011. (AP / Arj Singh / PA Wire)

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LONDON - Protesters camped outside St. Paul's Cathedral in London say they are staying put despite a deadline for them to take down their tents or face legal action.

London officials attached eviction notices to the tents Wednesday, demanding they be removed from the churchyard by 6 p.m. Thursday.

The Occupy London group say they will not leave, but will mark the passing of the deadline with a rally outside the cathedral. The City of London Corporation says that if the tents are not removed it will go to court seeking an eviction notice -- a process that could take months.

More than 200 tents have been pitched outside the famous domed church since Oct. 15 in a protest against capitalist excess inspired by New York's Occupy Wall Street.