Legal experts were today starting the fightback against the Government's decision to allow giant pylons to span the Vale of York.

They were examining official papers for flaws on which to base a judicial challenge after North Yorkshire councillors vowed the battle against the pylons would go on.

Members of the county council's environmental committee voted unanimously to continue the fight, saying the future of the area's countryside was at stake.

Phil Lawson, head of environmental policy, said the prospect of High Court action was not being ruled out.

He said: "We will be going through the inspector's reports and the Government's papers with a fine tooth comb looking for anything we can base our challenge on."

The £200 million plan will see pylons the size of Nelson's Column stretching from Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York, to the Wilton Power Station at Lackenby in Cleveland.

Environment committee chairman, county councillor Michael Heseltine, urged campaigners not to give up hope. He said: "Yes, we are all bitterly disappointed and extremely concerned. After seven years of campaigning we can't believe it's been giving the go-ahead. But this is just the start; there are other legal alternatives we can look at and it is vital that pressure is stepped up now more than ever before."

The Government decision follows two public inquiries, and was made despite a fierce opposition campaign led by the Evening Press and backed by North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council. Tom Haigh, a member of REVOLT (Rural England Versus Overhead Line Transmissions) said he was delighted with the decision made by councillors, and promised that their efforts would be matched by protesters.

He said: "The next step is to organise a meeting of REVOLT members so we can decide on a plan of action."

He added that the protest also needed the backing of the general public.

Councillors will meet again to discuss the pylon issue in detail on April 21.

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