Madonna's land triumph dealt a blow

Madonna's triumph in her battle against ramblers has been dealt a blow - after an inquiry ruled walkers can still access the two largest plots of the disputed land in her English country estate.

On Friday it was announced ramblers had no right to walk through 15 out of 17 contested parts of the singer and husband Guy Ritchie's €13.4m Ashcombe Estate on the Dorset/Wiltshire border.

The Ritchies were furious when the Countryside Agency maps labelled 350 acres of their 1,200-acre (485-hectare) land as "open country" and argued the grounds would be "devastated" by walkers and jobs could be lost.

Despite the majority victory on Friday, the two remaining plots of land which are legally accessible to ramblers are 135 acres - nearly half the land disputed by the superstar couple.

Her lawyer David Elvin QC refused to comment on Madonna and Guy's reaction to the ruling at Friday's conclusion at the Royal Chase Hotel in Shaftesbury, Dorset, or confirm rumours they would be appealing in the high court against the decision.

Planning inspector David Pinner said the areas in question were not in sight of Madonna's grade II listed Georgian mansion and "it is not a matter that can be dealt with in the context of a mapping appeal and it would be beyond my powers to consider it".

Jon Gambles, of the Ramblers’ Association, says: "Some very significant areas of downland will be available to the public which is excellent news because it is beautiful countryside."