Villagers say they weren’t told enough about plans to dump a mountain of rubbish the size of 35 football pitches next to their homes.

Residents in Piltdown near Uckfield have said they only found out about plans by East Sussex County Council to build the “land raise” site days before an official consultation period was due to end.

The county council has now extended the consultation period, but Piltdown residents fear they are too small a community to make any difference.

Villagers have set up a campaign group to protest against the proposed site, which would see at least 38 refuse lorries a day trundling through the country lanes.

Bob White, chairman of Piltdown Action Against Landraise said: “The parish council only found out on December 13.

“The county council started the consultation but only told the other parts of the area.

“We are only a very small community of less than 5,000 people so are worried we don’t have enough sway. But this will affect people over a large area.

“It is going to effect people as far away as Haywards Heath.

“More than 38 vehicles will be coming off the A23 a day."

Members of the public have until January 15 to comment on the consultation.

To see the full plans and have your say visit www.consult.eastsussex.gov.uk/portal.

To join the campaign visit www.piltdownaal.wordpress.com/information.