The proposed bridge will be 400 metres long

Friends of the Earth campaigner Anthony Bown has battled to stop the project to re-route traffic around Barnstaple.

He claimed it would disturb large numbers of seabirds on the Taw and Torridge Estuary, along with the habitat of endangered otters.

But his last-ditch appeal has been dismissed by Master of the Rolls, Lord Phillips, Lord Justice Waller and Lord Justice Carnwath.

Plans for the Barnstaple western bypass include a 2.7-kilometre stretch of new road and a 400-metre long five-span bridge across the River Taw, to be known as the Downstream Bridge.

Ruling confirmed

Mr Bown, of Alswear, South Molton, failed to earlier this year in a High Court bid to have Department of Transport decisions which opened the way for the scheme overturned.

That ruling was confirmed by the Appeal Court in London.

Mr Bown's only hope now is to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords.

Mr Bown has challenged various compulsory purchase and other orders made by the Department for Transport after a six-day public inquiry in June 2001.