Plans to build new primary school on playing fields in Caversham have been backed by the High Court despite strong opposition from local campaigners.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) granted planning permission in August for The Heights Free School to be built on part of the playing fields.

Proposals for the school were opposed by the Mapledurham Playing Fields Action Group (MPFAG), which said the fields were "highly valued" by residents.

Mrs Justice Lang rejected the complaints at the High Court in London, on Tuesday, and confirmed the plans would go ahead.

The MPFAG raised over £7,000 to legally challenge Reading Borough Council’s decision to grant conditional approval to the Education Skills Funding Agency’s proposal.

The community group fears the school and 20-vehicle car park will devastate recreational activities and lead to a loss of valuable public open space.

Mapledurham playing fields are run by an RBC-controlled charity with the objective of providing and maintaining a recreation ground for the benefit of inhabitants of Mapledurham Parish and the Borough of Reading.

The MPFAG said the land was designated for community use and a school would break the agreement.

However, one of the town’s biggest ever consultations revealed that most residents thought the school should be built on the playing fields.

The judge also dismissed the claimant’s request for leave to appeal.

A council spokesman said: “The High Court’s decision to dismiss the application for judicial review is welcomed by RBC.

“It was always the council’s intention to defend its position robustly on this matter and we are pleased that the judge dismissed the application on all four grounds submitted.

“RBC is pleased that the case has been dealt with swiftly by the courts, so that the Education and Funding Agency’s planning application to build a new primary school on a small part of Mapledurham Playing Fields can be progressed in order to meet local demand for school places.”

The school will be built by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Education.

Pupils have been taught in temporary buildings ion Gosbrook Road since September 2014, while the school's site was decided.