Villagers are to fight a Government inspector's decision to build 185 homes in their community.

Lindfield Preservation Society is seeking legal advice after the independent inspector, appointed by Secretary of State for Communities Hazel Blears, told villagers to expect new homes at two greenfield sites.

The bulk would be built on land behind Newton Road, next to a nature reserve on a plot rejected by Mid Sussex District Council but added at the last minute by the inspector.

Residents are already fighting a planning application for 120 homes at the site, made prior to the inspector's approval.

Developers will also be allowed to build 65 homes at Gravelye Lane, following the inspector's binding decision.

Michael Anstey, chairman of the society, said: "We have to fight this.

We have to mitigate it by whatever means possible.

"We're taking legal advice and will speak with whoever supports us from Friends of the Earth to English Nature and the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

"These targets are just not realistic.

The greatest pressure is falling on the South East because of London but it's too appalling to bear.

"In the last century, Lindfield has doubled in size. To try to do that again in 20 years is putting it under enormous strain and we just can't cope.

"It's simply not sustainable. We don't have proper road access as it is.

This is a very packed, little village and the quality of life here, as well as the environment, will be destroyed."

Lindfield Parish Council will consider an application to build at the site by developer Gleeson Homes in an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.

The preservation society has already asked that any decision be deferred.

About 1,400 homes have been announced for Mid Sussex in the next nine years, on top of 15,000 others due to be built by 2026, according to the Government's blueprint for the region, the South East Plan.

Mr Anstey said: "We all know that housing stock is low and that it's difficult to get on the property ladder but do we really need to build over all our green space to solve it?

"If the planning application is accepted we could fight for a judicial review or appeal to Hazel Blears."