The city council is now taking the dispute to the High Court A six-year battle over diners using a pontoon at an Oxford riverside restaurant is set to go all the way to the High Court.

Oxford City Council moved prevent the use of the pontoon at Aziz Pandesia, formerly Aqua Vitae, at Folly Bridge after complaints about noise and lighting.

In August, appeals inspector Roger Priestley found in favour of the restaurant - provided it was closed to customers after 9.30pm, with tables cleared by 10pm.

On Tuesday, city councillors voted to challenge the decision in the High Court.

Planning officer Murray Hancock said: "The papers have been lodged but there is no date set.

"We are challenging the inspector's decision because we think it is flawed."

He took issue with the "ambiguous" hours imposed by the appeal inspector and the lack of explanation about how the new tenant would remove customers by 9.30pm.

Mr Hancock was also concerned that the inspector did not address problems caused by 50 covers on the pontoon - when a former inspector raised concerns about 40 covers the previous year.

John Peachey, who lives opposite the restaurant in Shirelake Close, said: "This is the only opportunity we have got to stop the pontoon being used.

"You can get 60 people on it and if they have had a few drinks, it is an accident waiting to happen."

But county councillor Deborah Woodin and city councillor Susanna Pressel said they did not see the point in a High Court challenge.

Mrs Woodin said: "I think everything is quite clear in the ruling."

A spokesman for the restaurant declined to comment on the council's action.