They challenged a decision by the deputy prime minister blocking agricultural land in Cambs being turned into private caravan sites.

He backed South Cambs District Council, which had turned down the proposal for Sandy Park, Chesterton, in July.

On Monday a senior judge ruled there were no "very special" circumstances to justify a permanent site.

'Inappropriate development'

The group of nearly 30 travellers challenged the legality of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's decision to block the sites.

Mr Prescott and a planning inquiry inspector had backed South Cambridgeshire District Council's decision in July to refuse planning permission for the proposal for 28 plots for caravans and another four plots for families in transit.

Normally such applications are ruled "inappropriate development" within the Green Belt, and applicants have to show there are "very special circumstances" to win permission.

Mr Prescott's department ruled there were no such circumstances.

Mr Justice Forbes, sitting in the High Court in London, ruled it was clear the government approach was the correct one and rejected the travellers' legal challenge.