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Tottenham Hotspur were today a little closer to realising plans for a major stadium expansion as the last business standing in the way of the £400million development lost a dramatic High Court battle.

Family-run business Archway Sheet Metal Works lost its challenge against a compulsory purchase order being used to force it out of its premises near the North Stand at White Hart Lane.

The decision clears the way for the club's new 56,000 capacity stadium complex.

The business, in Paxton Road, Tottenham, asked a judge to quash Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' decision to confirm the order on the grounds that it was "unlawful and invalid".

But Mr Justice Dove, who has revealed he is an Aston Villa fan, ruled there was "no legal flaw" in the decision-making process.

If Archway - the last objector to the purchase order - had won its David and Goliath battle it could have thrown plans for the new stadium into disarray.

Instead, unless there is a successful appeal against the ruling, it is believed the way is now clear for Tottenham Hotspur to go ahead and build a "world class" venue.

Josif Josif, 46, who runs the business producing metal items for the catering and hospitality industry, was in court with other family members to hear the judge's ruling.

Last November a mystery fire gutted the Archway premises, located just yards from the White Hart Lane ground in north London.

Mr Josif said at the time of the fire: "People were calling us and threatening us and we were receiving bomb threats and that started a few months ago, but we don't know if that's got anything to do with it."

The firm, which occupies two crucial plots affected by the purchase order, has been in dispute with Spurs for the last decade.

The club has planning permission for the new stadium and hopes it will open for the 2018-19 season.