An inquiry into the status of Radley Lakes is being extended to enable extra sessions to be held, due to the number of people who want to give evidence.

The inquiry, into whether the lakes should be designated as a 'village green', thereby preventing RWE npower using the lakes to dump waste ash from Didcot Power Station, was due to last four days, finishing today.

But due to the number of people who wished to support the application which would protect the area, there was insufficient time available for RWE npower to oppose the proposal. These objections will now be heard on June 20, 21 and 23.

Yesterday, the inquiry, held at Radley College, resumed with ecologist Dr Bob Eeles, director of the Oxfordshire Geology Trust, giving evidence.

He said the area was rich in natural history with birds, mammals, fish, rare plants, insects and moths, some of which were protected species.