VILLAGERS are celebrating a court of appeal victory in a long running legal battle against a quayside fence.

Campaigners have been fighting against a two-metre high metal fence along Mistley Quay since it was installed by port owners TW Logistics un September 2008.

Ten years later residents are still locked in battle to try and get the fence taken down.

The quay was registered as a village green in 2014 after an eight day public inquiry, but TW Logistics challenged the decision at the High Court which was turned down in 2016.

In July a further challenge went to the High Court of Appeal with the port owners arguing if the quay was a village green it would deny the port owners lawful on-going use of the quayside.

On Friday the appeal was rejected.

Simon Bullimore, chairman of the Mistley Free the Quay group, said: "It's fantastic news, couldn't be better.

"At the moment it is terrific, we go one step back and two steps forward.

"Everytime we have to go to court morale drops a bit, but when we get the result we are marching again.

"It's been going for ten years - it gives us even more reasons to see it through.

"There is so much support in the community we just press ahead."

Campaigners are now waiting to see if TW Logistics requests a further appeal at the Supreme Court before any action can be taken to try and get the fence taken down.

Birketts’ Partner and solicitor advocate Richard Eaton defended the village green status at the court of appeal.

He said: “Mistley is a working port and a key issue in the litigation has been the examination of how the law treats the co-existing interests of the landowner and the inhabitants. The decision sheds valuable light on the post registration rights of each, and how they can continue with sensible give and take and common sense."

TW Logistics declined to comment.