Campaigners fighting to save Radley Lakes have lost their High Court battle to overturn an injunction banning them from the site.

The group are fighting to stop RWE npower filling the lake with waste ash from Didcot Power Station.

On Friday at the High Court, Mr Justice Teare extended a temporary injunction banning protesters from picketing, setting up camp or taking photographs of workers at the site. The injunction was imposed after npower complained about squatters.

But the judge amended the injunction to lift a ban on photography and filming around the lakes, and eased the geographical scope of the restrictions. The injunction will still ban protesters from entering the land, or setting up camps within a quarter of a mile of its boundaries.

The protesters' lawyer, Stephanie Harrison, argued unsuccessfully that there was no need for an injunction and that if one had to be imposed at all, it should be restricted to banning illegal activity, such as "assaulting, molesting, harassing or threatening" staff, obstructing staff and their vehicles, or publishing the identities of anyone working there.

Marjorie White, a spokesman for Save Radley Lakes, said afterwards: "If RWE npower think they can scare the local population into submission, they should think again. Radley's remaining lakes should be saved for the community."

John Rainford, station manager at Didcot A power station, said after the hearing: "As a responsible employer, we need the injunction to protect our staff and contractors, the site and our lawful work there from illegal disruption.

"Given the current calmer situation at the site, these changes are welcome as they strike the right balance between protection for us and the rights of the public.

"We recognise that most people wish to make views known about Radley Lakes in a peaceful and lawful fashion and we have no desire to prevent them from doing so - they have nothing to fear from the injunction."

Campaigners are trying to get Radley Lakes designated as a Town Green, to protect the area from development.

Save Radley Lakes is holding a sponsored dog walk on Saturday to raise money to help pay its legal fees. The walk starts at 1pm at Abbey Meadows in Abingdon.