Antique dealers have failed in an attempt to overturn a total ban on ivory trading being introduced by the government after the high court ruled the legislation did not breach European law.

Conservation groups, who argued that any dilution of the ban would revitalise illegal elephant poaching, welcomed the decision, which they said would preserve the UK’s position as a world leader in the fight against the ivory trade.

Last month, a small number of antique dealers challenged the ban in the high court, arguing that sales of “cultural heritage” objects had no impact on the market for illegally plundered tusks.