Herefordshire Council's legal remedy to stop further construction at the controversial camp for migrant strawberry pickers is resulting in unwanted side effects.

An amenity centre, surgery and shop at the 300-caravan Brierley site must stay boarded up following the High Court ban.

Hundreds of newly-arrived foreign students are being bussed in and out of Leominster for food and basic needs, on a daily basis.

A local trader's plan to set up a grocery shop at the half-completed amenity building has been stalled by the court decision. A section of the centre that was to have been a fully equipped doctor's surgery staffed by a Russian-speaking doctor remains an empty shell.

The fruit-pickers, whose numbers will rise to more than 800 during the season, will seek help from Leominster doctors and local hospitals if they are sick or injured, said strawberry firm bosses.

Problems with sewage disposal at the site are another effect of the court ban. Four waste-disposal tankers each day are going to and from the site to take waste to Kidderminster.

S & A Group, Europe's biggest strawberry grower, who set up the fruit farm and workers' complex, said it was told effluent could not be disposed at Hereford or Leominster.

Spokesman Graham Neal hit out at the development ban which was causing "difficulties all round", including to the local community. His firm was being treated unjustly, he claimed.

"We're in the wrong for trying to provide proper facilities - and we would be blamed if we didn't look after people," Mr Neal said on Tuesday.

The amenity building - which Herefordshire Council wants to get demolished - was to have housed a cinema, training room, medical suite, shop, bar, gym, sauna, internet room, satellite TV room and library.

At last Friday's hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice, London, Justice Roderick Evans QC upheld an injunction to halt construction work following the granting of an interim ban by Hereford County Court at the request of Herefordshire Council.

Developers S & A Property were told they could only complete 'make safe' work at the site.

Timothy Jones, for the council, told the judge S & A had deliberately "jumped the gun" when they went ahead without planning permission.

Justice Evans said: "The defendant's conduct has been driven by financial considerations and, in order to maximise profit, they have indulged in what can only be described as a flagrant, determined and cynical breach of planning procedures."

He ordered the company to pay the council's £10,000 legal costs.

Council leader Roger Phillips said after the hearing: "This sends a clear message that developers in Herefordshire cannot ride roughshod over planning law.

"This vindicates our decision to protect the rights of Herefordshire residents by pursuing legal action."

This week S & A said it was planning to appeal against the injunction. The dispute could return to the High Court as early as next week.

The main objectors' group opposing the Brierley development, the Arrow Valley Residents Association, welcomed the High Court decision and said it would continue its campaign. The group set up a website this week - www.avra.uk.com