A residents' association is celebrating after a public inquiry into a local park came down on their side.

The Elmtree Park Residents' Association (EPRA) has been campaigning for five years to secure town green status for Whitchurch Park.

They wanted to secure the status for the 15 acres of land behind Asda in Oatlands Avenue, so it can never be built on.

More than 2,000 people had signed a petition calling for green status for the park, which has wooded areas which are home to pipistrelle and horseshoe bats and numerous bird species, including fieldfare.

The park has also been used for football, tennis, cricket, dog walking and picnics since the Whitchurch estate was built in the 1960s.

Hundreds of residents were sent leaflets about the situation and more than 30 people attended the three-day inquiry at the Council House in June this year.

The conclusion of the report is that the land has never been appropriated to public open space, and is therefore capable of being registered as a town or village green.

But Bristol City Council still has the final say after considering the inspector's recommendation.

The council has until November 16 to notify the Registration Authority of any grounds they may have for continued opposition to EPRA's application.

John Button, 68, chairman of EPRA said: "We are encouraged by the outcome of this report. The dedication and attention to detail of our committee, and the support of our residents, has been great.

"Bristol City Council now has to decide whether or not to continue to oppose our application. The inspector has directed that there is a four-week deadline which is November 16, for the council to notify the Registration Authority of any grounds they may have for continued opposition to our application."

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "The council now has until November 16 to decide if it wishes to continue to oppose the application.

"If so, it will notify the independent inspector who will then consider those grounds and propose a further public inquiry if appropriate, or provide further advice."