CAMPAIGNERS have lost a High Court battle to prevent quarrying near an ancient monument.

A judge has refused to overturn a planning application allowing further quarrying close to Thornborough Henges.

Protestors claim the scheme - approved by North Yorkshire County Council last year - would damage the landscape surrounding the 5,000-year-old monuments near Bedale.

However, in a judgment running to almost 30 pages, Mr Justice Hickinbottom rejected the judicial review challenge.

The judge emphasised the importance of mineral extraction to the nation's prosperity and quality of life, adding that North Yorkshire was particularly rich in commercially viable deposits.

The legal challenge to the Ladybridge Farm application was brought by Kimberley Miller, a resident of nearby Nosterfield and a member of the Friends of Thornborough Henges campaign group.

During a three-day hearing, Miss Miller's legal team argued that the council had based its decision on flawed information.

Lawyers said the authority had failed to adequately take into account the impact of the quarry extension on the setting of the henges.

They also claimed the council's ruling was inconsistent with previous decisions and it had failed to put together a rational "bird management strategy".

They said there was a risk that birds settling on the land once it was restored, would endanger aircraft coming out of RAF Leeming.

Mike Sanders, spokesman for the Friends of Thornborough Henges said last night that members were “very disappointed” with the judgement.

However, he stressed that the group would fight on.

“We’re looking very carefully at the judgment with a view to finding grounds for appeal and this is far from the end of the road,” he said.

The planning application was submitted by Tarmac.

Permission to take more than one million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site was first given in January 2007.

However, the council later quashed its own decision following a challenge from campaigners.

Tarmac then submitted a fresh application with up-to-date archaeology, hydrology and environmental reports. This was approved in August last year.

Protestors claim the henges are at the centre of a 20-mile corridor of ancient structures stretching from Catterick to Boroughbridge.

Tarmac says the proposed quarry site is half a mile away from the nearest henge.