Villagers who launched an ambitious legal fight to establish a 200km exclusion zone round their Midland parishes to protect themselves from animal rights militants have lost their case. Instead a judge in London granted an interim 100m cordon around the controversial guinea pig farm at the centre of the protests whose owners and associates have been subjected to a campaign of intimidation and harassment. Last night, residents vowed to continue their fight until they could "live in peace". The case follows years of protests at Darley Oaks farm in Newchurch, Staffs, owned by brothers Christopher and John Hall who breed guinea pigs for medical research. In October, the body of Gladys Hammond, John Hall's mother-in-law, who died in 1997 aged 82, was stolen from a grave at St Peter's church in the village of Yoxall. A 62-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday by detectives investigating the incident, but released without charge. Two men, aged 41 and 34, remain on police bail after being arrested on October 14. Yesterday's case was brought under the Protection from Harassment Act against various individuals and organisations, including Save Newchurch Guinea Pigs, SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty), Speak Campaigns, and the Animal Liberation Front. An order was sought to protect Newborough, Yoxall, Barton under Needwood, Hanbury, Tatenhill, Draycott and Hoar Cross, all just west of Burton upon Trent. Solicitor-advocate Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden cited recent "very sinister criminal events", including the theft of the body and an arson attack on a company which supplied products to the farm. But Mr Justice Hodge ruled that, although the effect on the Hall family and their business had been devastating, it would be "unwise" to make such a wide interim order pending a full hearing of the case in mid-January, by which time the protesters would have had time to prepare their case. The judge banned named campaigners and animal rights organisations from going within 250 metres of premises occupied by the Halls' employees and their suppliers and contractors. | 
