CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop a further education college being built on recreational land have vowed last night to continue their legal battle, despite losing their appeal court bid last week.

Washington Forum First, fronted by resident Pamela Beresford, has fought a long legal battle to thwart plans to sell the area known as the Sports Arena to City of Sunderland College.

She challenged Sunderland City Council's refusal to register the land as a village green, set aside for the recreational use of local people and immune from development.

Her judicial review challenge was dismissed by High Court judge, Mrs Justice Smith, in November last year, and that decision was last week confirmed by three appeal court judges.

Mrs Beresford was refused permission to appeal to the House of Lords, but may still petition the Law Lords directly for an appeal hearing.

Washington First Forum spokesman Robert Duggan said last night: "There are applications to register open space as town or village greens all around the country which are being held up by our case.

"There is also great concern about the implications of our case amongst environmental protection groups and sporting organisations. We have taken the advice given to us, and a petition to the House of Lords, requesting an appeal hearing will be made within the time limit specified by law."

He said: "On a separate note, our application to the European Court of Human Rights has moved forward. This application relates to our claim that we were denied our rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association when we were collecting signatures to a petition."

In his judgement, Lord Justice Dyson said the case had raised an "issue of considerable general importance" on the status of village greens never before considered by the courts.