Marlborough town councillors have agreed to back a fight to prevent a bridle path being opened to vehicles.

Wiltshire County Council is hoping that the track, known as Preshute Bridleway 12 will become a test case.

The path runs from the A4 Marlborough-Beckhampton road by the Thames water pumping station at Clatford and runs in a northerly direction to Manton House Stables.

Coun Boulton told the town council she had been advised the original highway along the bridleway route had been replaced with the metalled road past Manton Hollow to the stables.

Under existing laws Wiltshire County Council has been forced to acknowledge the track is an ancient road and should be open to four-wheel drive vehicles and motorbikes.

Legally the county council says it is obliged to reinstate the path, which was laid down as a highway in 1792, as a byway with a width of 40 feet.

Frank McKim, of the Council For The Protection of Rural England, said: "We are searching for legal grounds for opposing this order. If anyone is aware of legal changes to the status of the path we should be grateful to know ."

People are also being asked to send objections to the county council quoting reference BB/R199.