Residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost their legal bid to ban the use of the word lesbian to describe gay women.

The group had argued that the word insulted their identity.

Lesbos was the birthplace in 7BC of Sappho, whose love poems inspired the term lesbian.

The island of Lesbos: Not just for women who like women

An Athens court said the word did not define the identity of the residents of the island, and so it could be used validly by gay groups in Greece and abroad.

The ruling also ordered the three plaintiffs to pay court expenses of £180

Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, said: 'This is a good decision for lesbians everywhere. A court in Athens could not stop people around the world from using it. It was ridiculous.'

Mr Chirdaris said the plaintiffs are free to appeal against the decision in a higher court.

The Aegean island of Lesbos lies just off the Turkish coast. It has become a gathering spot for gay women, especially at the village of Eressos, which is regarded as the birthplace of Sappho.

Several residents testified during the trial that the use of the word lesbian had boosted the island's tourist trade.