Neighbours in a small Sussex village have launched their own magazine after claiming they were being "silenced" by the local parish news.

Villagers in Chiddingly, near Hailsham, are fighting proposals to build an arts centre at Farley's Yard, Muddles Green, which hopes to attract 25,000 visitors a year.

However, campaigners said they were being forced to launch their own publication as their views were not being put in the local parish paper.

Squabbles broke out at a recent meeting of Chiddingly Parish Council, when editors were accused of publishing 23 articles in favour of the arts centre and only five letters against it.

Councillors are now refusing to financially support the local news sheet, to the tune of £100 a year.

Councillor Lynne Calvert, who edited the parish magazine for 15 years, said: "This is hardly a balanced view."

In retaliation, she will now take over the helm of the newly designed Chiddingly Free Press.

If plans get the go-ahead, Farley's Yard, which was once home to famous surrealists Sir Roland Penrose and Lee Miller, could become a major tourist attraction, featuring exhibition and performance spaces, offices and an education centre.

However, villagers fear the farm once used by Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore could become an architectural blight which would destroy village life.

The parish council recently recommended the plans for refusal by Wealden District Council.

However, Coun Calvert then disagreed with editors of the parish news after they decided not to carry the decision.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the council voted to discontinue its support of the paper, deleting it from the parish precept for the next financial year.

The Reverend Phil Hodgins, of Chiddingly Parish Church, who is in charge of the magazine, said: "I was not altogether surprised given what I know of the council and those who have already declared an interest in Farley's Yard so cannot take part in these debates.

"The church serves the community by publishing the parish magazine but because this issue has become so contentious and potentially divisive within the community we have taken the decision that we will not be publishing anything further about it from either side of the debate.

"It is clear both sides have deeply-held views on this issue and I would urge all involved to avoid pursuing their views in ways that may undermine neighbourly relations in the long term.

"When the matter is resolved, everyone still has to live together in a small community."

The first edition of the Chiddingly Free Press is likely to be published this week.

Coun Calvert said: "I may not agree with everything people say but I will defend their right to say it."

Planning applications for the arts centre have been referred to a regulatory committee at Wealden District Council.

It is expected to come to a decision on Friday, February 10.