Romany gypsies are planning to march through a Kent village in protest at the banning of a traditional horse fair.

The gypsies say the fair, in the village of Horsmonden, is a fundamental event for their community and that the decision to stop it is an "unnecessary over-reaction".

But the local council argues that the fair has outgrown the village and has caused problems for those living in the area.

Earlier in the week, the High Court refused to overturn an order banning the event, saying Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the home secretary had acted lawfully in seeking to prevent the fair.

'Roads clogged'

The annual event is held on Horsmonden village green on every second Sunday of September, and normally attracts thousands of gypsies.

The decision to ban the fair has angered travellers, who say it is a good way of keeping in touch with other members of the gypsy community.

But parish councillor Neil Robbins says last year's event caused a great deal of disruption in Horsmonden.

"You would have seen all our roads totally clogged up with traffic... litter strewn everywhere, even to the point where we had nappies dropped into people's gardens, horses running up and down the highway."

'Avoid disruption'

The High Court said on Thursday that while it was plain the local authority had taken account of the impact of its decision on the Romany community, the main concern was for the safety implications of the gathering.

"The plain reality is that both the borough council and the Secretary of State considered in the light of the policing concerns that the disruption to the life of the local community was of paramount concern and the need to avoid such disruption should take priority over the interests of the Romany community," it said.