A London council is to be allowed to bury people in land on top of war graves after a Church of England court gave it permission.

The council received 660 objections to the plans, which involved clearing scrub from raised land on top of graves where 48,000 people including 48 First and Second World War soldiers are buried, and making the space available for more burials.

The case, which is thought to be the first of its kind, will allow the council to bury 700 new people in the space, in Camberwell Old Cemetery, south London.

Campaigners opposing the plans claim this is a "test case" which could pave the way for other space-poor boroughs to make similar provisions. The case is likely to be referred to by other Chancellors in future cases concerning reuse of land.