Campaigners are in limbo following a turf war with a council.

Save Farm Terrace has been campaigning to keep its allotments in Occupation Road, Watford, for four years years. A judicial review, heard in the Royal Courts of Justice, ended at 4pm without a final decision.

The campaigners were battling the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Governments, who earlier this year granted consent to Watford Borough Council to use the land as part of the Health Campus Scheme.

READ MORE: 'This is a very emotional day': High Court hearing to decide future of allotments

The Health Campus scheme aims to redevelop the land around Watford General with a new hospital, housing and leisure facilities. However, there are no guarantees the scheme will go ahead.

The original Health Campus masterplan, drawn up in 2007, showed the development built around the Terrace Farm allotments, which have been in use since 1896.

High Court Judge Beverley Lang said she needed time to consider the decision. She said she would try to decide before November 4 - the day tenants have to return their keys and vacate their sites.

READ MORE: 'We really believe it will end this time': Turf war returns to High Court

Speaking after the court case, Sara Jane Trebar, who spearheaded the campaign, said: "I feel we've done everything we can now and we've done it to the best of our ability.

"It's a shame the decision can't be based on moral arguments. Sometimes you just want to shout, 'I just want to grow fruit and vegetables'.

"It's sad we've been put in this position again but hopefully it will have been worth it."

Barrister Jason Coppel, on behalf of the campaigners, said the council has not set out what the land will be used for and there is no guarantee a hospital, school or housing development will be built there.

He also said that building a development for profit cannot be considered an exceptional circumstance.

In order for the council to build on the land, there must be exceptional circumstances.

But barrister Zoe Leventhal, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Governments, argued that a number of small circumstances can make up one exceptional circumstance.

Watford Borough councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa, who represents Vicarage Road, said: "I hope they make the right decision.

"The allotments are a crucial part of west Watford and have been for so long.

"The town is already so densely populated - my doctor has a sign saying he can't accept any more patients. The last thing we need is more housing.

"We want to keep green spaces, not lose them."

This is the third time the case has returned to the High Court. Judges have twice overturned the Secretary of State's consent in 2012 and 2014.