People fighting a booze ban that is stopping a shop coming to their community could soon be popping champagne corks, writes Mark Templeton.

A covenant owned by pub company Morrells prevents alcohol being sold within a half-mile radius of its Blackbird pub at Blackbird Leys, Oxford. The contract was also threatening Oxford United's new stadium at Minchery Farm, but a High Court judge ruled last week that the order only applied to council-owned land.

Residents trying to get a Spar store set up at Dunnock Way say the ruling is good news for them.

Although the land where the proposed store would be built is owned by the council, it would be sold to the shop and therefore not be affected by the covenant. Enid Foster, of the Leys Residents' Association, said: "We're delighted by the judge's ruling and it is looking good for us, although we will have to wait and see if Morrells will appeal."

Martin Lyons, Oxford City Council's property co-ordinator, added: "We will be studying the full court commentary over the next few days."

People living on the estate say they have to travel more than a mile just to get a loaf of bread. Spar wants to set up a store, but says it would not be viable with the covenant in place as most of its profits come from the sale of alcohol.

Oxford United welcomed the judge's ruling, but club chairman Firoz Kassam still awaits a judicial review of Oxford City Council's decision to allow a multiplex cinema to be built at Minchery Farm.