Rolling Stone Keith Richards was today learning whether he has won his battle to protect his privacy by re-routing a footpath near his country home.

The 60-year-old guitarist, currently touring in the US, wants the path moved away from his rural retreat in West Sussex, which he bought in 1966.

He claims ramblers and cyclists can peer into the grounds of his home, Redlands at West Wittering, near Chichester.

He has now asked West Sussex County Council to move the path, which the group backing him, Chichester Harbour Conservancy, wants to turn into a cycle route.

Richards says he will only agree to the cycle route if the path, which comes as close as 11 yards to his house with its sculpted lawns and moat, is moved.

Today, the council's rights of way committee was meeting to discuss the application to move the path to the other side of a nearby field, taking walkers away from the property.

Planning officials say councillors should reject the bid.

Mark Hammond, director of environment and development, said in a report to the committee: "Mr Richards is a well known figure and so inevitably attracts a greater level of interest and attention from members of the public.

"He feels that, on its present line, the footpath causes a considerable problem in terms of the privacy and security of the property."

The report, which dismisses Richards' arguments as "weak", says moving the path would spoil views of the house.

It says: "Redlands can still be seen from the proposed route but the attractive features of the building and the presence of the very unusual moat would be virtually lost to path users."

In 1967, Richards and Stones frontman Mick Jagger were arrested by police during a drugs raid.

Jagger was given a jail sentence for drug offences, but it was later lifted on appeal.

Richards was subsequently cleared at Chichester Crown Court of permitting the house to be used for the smoking of cannabis.