ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners backed by Bianca Jagger have vowed to “fight on” after they were banned from certain protest activities.

Protests at two oil and gas drilling sites in Sussex and Surrey have included the construction of a “fortress” and network of tunnels.

Other campaigners have obstructed access with slow walking in front of vehicles and events held at site entrances.

A judge ruled that demonstrators had rights but were not permitted to carry out “unlawful acts” which would interfere with the rights of drilling firm UK Oil and Gas Investments.

Five campaigners, including actress Susan Jameson and Friends of the Earth, are considering an appeal against the judge’s ruling.

Dave Timms, head of political affairs at Friends of the Earth, said: “This isn’t over yet.

“I am appalled that residents of South East England are being threatened with intimidation and censorship for speaking out.”

Weald Action Group said after the hearing: “Communities across the South East are rightly fearful of the threat posed by these companies to their environment and people will find it very confusing to work out what they can and can’t do under the terms of this injunction.

“We’re going to fight on. Oil companies cannot be allowed to set the legal framework for protest in this way. Dissent is not a crime and the penalties for breaching an injunction are severe. We do not believe that powerful private companies should be able to use the law to silence and intimidate campaigners concerned about the dangers and damage to the environment and our communities.”

The judge refused to grant an injunction in relation to the Ukog’s head office in Guildford and said other campaigning activities – such as publicising protests and monitoring the sites – should not be banned.

Ms Jagger attended an earlier hearing in March and gave her support to the demonstrators.

The former wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger said at that time: “Ukog’s attempt to silence environmental defenders with an injunction is an attack on freedom of expression and democracy.”

Lawyers for Ukog said some protests were intended to interfere with its “economic interests” at its sites at Broadford Bridge near Billingshurst and Horse Hill, near Horley.

Judge John Male said: “I accept that protests on the highway are permitted, but the rights of others also to use the highway must be respected, as also must the rights of the claimants to pursue their lawful business activities.”