CAMPAIGNERS made angry outbursts as they this week started their last attempt to save a Radley lake from becoming a power station's dumping ground.

More than 80 people were at Monday's first hearing of a four-day inquiry at Radley College into whether to give village green status to two lakes, Thrupp and Bullfield lakes, at Radley.

RWE npower has been given permission to dump spent fuel ash from its power station at Didcot in Thrupp Lake, but campaign group Save Radley Lakes argues that should be blocked because the area has been a local beauty and recreation spot.

RWE npower and two other landowners on Monday disputed that it had been used by many people over the past two decades - and that drew heckling from campaigners at the inquiry.

In his opening statement, RWE barrister Charles Mynors said there had been no recreational use of the lakes, other than for angling by permission, occasional swimming, boating, canoeing, water and jet skiing by the previous owners.

Referring to questionnaires sent out by Save Radley Lakes about the use of the area, Mr Mynors said: "I think over the years, people's memories may have been coloured as to what activities actually took place on the lake."

His statement triggered cries of "rubbish", "nonsense" and "ridiculous" from campaigners.

Inquiry inspector Vivian Chapman made no comment after the short outburst, but later requested another member of the public not to intervene after she offered information when applicant Jo Cartmell gave evidence.

Mrs Cartmell, the Save Radley Lakes secretary, lodged the village green status application with Oxfordshire County Council under the Commons Registration Act 1965.

In his opening statement on behalf of Mrs Cartmell, barrister Philip Petchey drew attention to previous successful applications for town or village green status in other parts of the country, including two in Oxfordshire, the Trap Grounds case in Oxford and the Sunningwell Glebe land application.

He said: "The nature interest of the lakes site and its beauty are relevant. It is because of these things that people go there.

"If they go there, it is to do things that will make the lakes registrable as a town or village green."

Mrs Cartmell said she and many other people valued and used Thrupp and Bullfield lakes for a range of lawful sports and pastimes. They had done so for more than 20 years and many local residents had used the area for 50 years.

She said: "The land is the last remaining pocket of wild open space. It is a unique wildlife site whose future as a community resource deserves to be designated as a town or village green."

Mr Chapman said his function was to hear evidence and prepare a report setting out his findings and recommendation to Oxfordshire County Council, rather than making a decision himself.

He said: "It will be made by the county council. I am not concerned about the merits, or otherwise, as to the future use to which the lake might be put."

Originally, RWE npower wanted to use both lakes but last year dropped Bullfield, the smaller lake, from its application to Oxfordshire County Council. Campaigers want both lakes covered by the village green status.