A HIGH Court judge has granted the Ministry of Defence a temporary injunction banning Greenpeace anti-war protesters from boarding or attaching themselves to British military supply ships bound for the Gulf.

But Mr Justice Thomas refused to order the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior to move from its present position in Southampton Water where, the MoD alleged, it was blockading the port.

He said he was not persuaded on the evidence so far presented that the vessel was causing an obstruction. He would look in detail when the matter returned to court for a full hearing on Wednesday.

The judge said he was granting the interim anti-boarding injunction because of safety concerns about interference with the loading of high explosives and munitions on to ships at Marchwood Military Port.

Yesterday Greenpeace had to temporarily abandon the protest due to worsening weather. But protesters vowed to return at the earliest opportunity.

In court, the MoD's counsel, David Goldstein, said Greenpeace's latest action against Lyra J, which was waiting to pick up supplies for the Gulf, followed earlier disruption of the loading of Magdalen Green.

The judge said: "Such an injunction is not to be granted lightly. This is a political protest against a very important matter."