Heavy trucks will be allowed to use a village road despite fears they could be damaging an historic church.

Parishioners are worried the Go Green Recycling Ltd lorries will cause subsidence to the grounds at Crowborough's St Michael and All Angels' Church.

They believe an increase in traffic will cause more pollution and could lead to an infestation of rats at the site.

Mary Kane, deputy traffic commissioner for the South East, has given the company a licence allowing Go Green lorries to use the route following a public inquiry.

Kenneth Honeysett, a director of the company, told the inquiry they needed the licence to carry out the work.

He said only 26 and 32-tonne trucks would be parked at the site next to the church and the vehicles would set out empty from 7am Monday to Saturday and only return to the site during the day if they were making a delivery.

Church officials believe the vehicles could increase dirt and noise pollution and say work on the site has already caused subsidence to the church grounds.

Denis Emery, churchwarden of St Michael and All Angels, told the hearing he was concerned the heavy trucks along Crowborough Hill would put churchgoers in danger.

He said the road could not deal with any more heavy vehicles and was concerned the site where the lorries would be parked, at Penfold Driveways yard, off Crowborough Hill, was not big enough to accommodate extra trucks.

Ms Kane granted the application but issued a string of conditions.

The firm was ordered to resurface thesite and improve drainage, and install a wheel washing facility to prevent mud littering Sybron Way.

Go Green Recycling Ltd also agreed not to reverse trucks down Sybron Way and not carry out any vehicle maintenance at Penfold Driveways yard.

A spokesman from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner said: "Mr Emery commented that the church was used seven days a week by people of all ages and he was concerned that extra traffic from the site might create road safety issues.

"He accepted that Crowborough Hill was a busy road and that the Traffic Commissioner's remit did not involve traffic or planning issues."

An examination was carried out at Penfolds Driveways yard by a traffic inspector who concluded the application posed no threat to road safety.

He also recommended the site should be developed so that there was no seepage of water, mud or other liquid and that, at the very least, a water bath should be installed to clean the HGV wheels before they left the site.