JUBILANT campaigners were celebrating last night after being cleared of all charges by magistrates following their arrests at a blockade of a mass foot-and-mouth burial site.

After a three-day trial, Derwentside magistrates accepted that the six women who staged a sit-down protest at the Inkerman site, near Tow Law, County Durham, had been led to believe the land they were on was public property.

They had been told by Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) officials at a public meeting the night before they would not be arrested as long as they remained outside the fenced-off site.

And, magistrates said, a map faxed to police on the day to show Defra land included the access road outside, had not been produced in court to assess whether it had been legible or credible.

Speaking after the hearing, protestor Fiona Nicol said: "We have been totally vindicated."

She told the court of an indescribable stench in the village and how residents had been assured the problem would be dealt with - but on the day in question it was at its worst.

Mrs Nicol made two calls to Defra but no one was available for help, as had been promised.

Tow Law residents Mrs Nicol, 48, of Helme Park Terrace, Lisa Rowley, 22, of Weardale Crescent, Norma Dellavolta, 57, of Coronation Avenue, Christine Suddes, 38, of Railway Street, along with Katrina Rowley, 25, of Crook, and Emma Nicol, 26, of Cheltenham, had denied failing to leave land as directed.

Lisa and Katrina Rowley were also cleared of obstruction, and Katrina Rowley was found not guilty of assault.

Magistrates said that while Katrina Rowley had slapped a policeman, it had been done instinctively when she was pulled away from a police van where her father, John Rowley, was locked up.

He was arrested after climbing under a lorry carrying carcasses.