A Mid Sussex village will be destroyed if plans to build 50 new homes on fields there are approved, campaigners have warned.

More than 200 residents packed a village hall to launch their fight against the development planned for Orchard Way, Hurstpierpoint.

It is the ninth time they have taken up the cudgels to stop the beauty spot from being built on.

Action group Hurst Against Housing, which organised the meeting, fears allowing new homes will open the floodgates for up to 200 houses and destroy the village's rural nature.

Resident Steve Wadman said: "We chose to live here for the peace and quiet of the village. I have noticed a change in the four years I have been here.

"We are against this proposal and it isn't because we don't want it in our back yard.

"We feel in the future there will be other developments and we don't want to see any further major greenfield land used."

HAH revealed the results of surveys it had carried out.

Members said the health centre was already oversubscribed by 1,500 people and none of the playgroups can take in more children.

They were told governors at St Lawrence School had already received 74 applications for 60 places next year.

Mid Sussex District Council has allocated the land for housing but HAH hopes to oppose the council at a public inquiry in May.