Trucks began dumping waste at the site in August

They had urged councillors to revoke the tip's planning permission to protect an adjoining conservation site.

But after a two-hour debate on Monday, Wrexham council's planning committee voted 10 to six to impose tighter conditions on the way the tip operates.

The protestors said they would seek legal advice about the landfill.

Around 100 protestors had gathered at the town's Guildhall for the meeting, which had coincided with a meeting of the borough's planning department to discuss a report which allows the dumping of household waste from Merseyside at the site.

The Hafod Environmental Group had wanted the local authority to revoke the decision to allow the landfill.

The group's chair, Pauline Smout, said she was appalled and disgusted by the councillors' decision.

She said: "We will go back to our barristers in the morning. They have said they will reassess and research the position."

The company which operates the site, MWH associates, had already said it would comply with stricter planning conditions to protect the conservation site, which is a haven for great crested newts and other wildlife.

The campaign group has complained to the European Commission, claiming Wrexham Council infringed a directive by allowing tipping to go ahead.

Merseyside firm MWH Associates Ltd began tipping household waste at Hafod last month after obtaining permission from the council and the Environment Agency.

The report by Wrexham's chief planning officer Lawrence Isted discussed at Monday's meeting had recommended that tipping be allowed to continue, provided safeguards were in place to protect the conservation area.

Mr Isted's report states: "I believe there are no planning reasons to oppose the continued development of the site outside of the special area of conservation (SAC).

"To revoke the whole permissions would exceed what is necessary to protect the conservation interests of the SAC and I strongly recommend that the council does not make a revocation order."

MWH, which carries waste from Liverpool and neighbouring local authorities, said it had no intention of tipping within the conservation area.