A 14-year-old girl who was born to lesbian mothers using donated sperm has been told she must keep in touch with her gay fathers in an "extraordinary" court case.

Lawyers for the teenager argued in the High Court that she should not have to stay in touch with her biological father and his civil partner. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was backed by her mothers, who are also in a civil partnership. But Mr Justice Cobb ruled against the teenager and decided that it was in her best interests to have a "limited form of relationship" with her fathers.

She was born as a result of donor fertilisation and has been at the centre of litigation between her two fathers and two mothers for half her life.

Lawyers for the teenager had sought to persuade the judge at the High Court that she should be left to "reach her own conclusions" about maintaining contact with her fathers. The judge said he acknowledged and respected the teenager's "well-developed autonomy and independent thinking".

But he ruled that her fathers should be allowed to send her cards, letters and gifts - and said she was "likely to benefit" from the "modest but important link" with them.

Mr Justice Cobb said the fathers did not want him to order that they must be allowed see the girl - but only wanted an order for "indirect contact". The court heard she had a 10-year-old sister, also born as a result of donor fertilisation, with the same donor. Both girls live with their mothers.

The judge also made an order saying the fathers should have indirect contact with the younger girl in a case that he described as "extraordinary".

Mr Justice Cobb said the fathers had not had "any routine contact" with the girls for "many years".

The judge said neither girl wanted to see their fathers and both had spoken of legal proceedings - which began in 2008 - "ruining" their childhoods. They said their fathers were "solely to blame" for the "protracted litigation".

The judge indicated that the men felt that the current situation was partly the fault of the mothers, partly the fault of social workers and partly the fault of the family justice system.

The fathers had told the judge that not asking him to order that they should see the girls was the "biggest decision of their lives". Mr Justice Cobb said he was concerned that a "high-wall fortress", which the mothers had "constructed" and which "excludes the fathers", would "remain solid and impregnable".

"I remain clearly of the view that the fathers have something of real value and importance to add to the lives of the girls," he added. Mr Justice Cobb said the case illustrated the "immense difficulties" which could be "unleashed" when families were created by "known-donor fertilisation".