VILLAGERS living near a Staffordshire farm that breeds guinea pigs for medical research failed yesterday in their High Court attempt to ban animal-rights activists from a zone around their homes.

But Mr Justice Owen said that the activists were conducting a “guerrilla campaign of terrorism” and that the exclusion zone would be imposed if they failed to obey court orders in place to regulate their protests.

At a hearing in London two months ago, lawyers for the owners of Darley Oaks Farm at Newchurch and their families, employees and neighbours urged the judge to impose the no-go zone of 77 square miles — the biggest sought in such a case — around seven parishes whose 3,830 households were deemed at risk from the activities of extremists.

The court action, headed by the farming brothers Christopher and John Hall, was brought under the Protection from Harassment Act. Their case was backed by Peter Clamp, a parish councillor.

The defendants named in the action included Save Newchurch Guinea Pigs, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, Speak, the Animal Liberation Front and various individuals.

Some of the defendants agreed that their protests outside the farm entrance should be limited in time, frequency and the number of demonstrators, but they successfully contested Mr Clamp’s right to act as the voice of the local people.

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