A council's decision to divert a deliberately blocked footpath rather than clear it of obstructions was upheld by the High Court today.

A judge in London rejected a challenge brought by Kate Ashbrook, chairman of the Ramblers' Association, who had accused East Sussex County Council of a "perverse and unsustainable" failure to force the landowner to reopen the path.

It was blocked deliberately by a landowner to keep out the public and has been closed for over a decade.

The dispute, over a path which crosses land at Framfield, near Uckfield, has become a cause clbre for ramblers and Ms Ashbrook was given leave to take her case to the Court of Appeal.

The land over which footpath "Framfield 9" runs belongs to Rarebargain Ltd, a company linked to multi-millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten, who is building a palatial house nearby and has branded ramblers "scum of the earth".

The obstacles included a barn about 30 yards square, a locked gate, barbed wire fencing and a line of industrial refrigerators.

Ms Ashbrook had argued that the council had failed in its legal duty by not forcing the removal of the obstructions or doing the work itself at the landowner's expense.

She also said the council had acted against its own policy.

But Mr Justice Grigson said it was clear from the council's policy document that a diversion would be considered if removal of the obstructions was not "reasonably achievable" and a suitable alternative route was available.

It was open to the council to decide that removal of the barn was not reasonably achievable.

The judge made no order for costs against Ms Ashbrook, who said afterwards: "If the council thinks this is the end of the matter, it must think again."