Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames has thrown his weight behind a campaign to stop 90 houses being built on a meadow.

Conservative Mr Soames has written to the Government's Planning Inspectorate objecting to proposals by Westbury Homes Ltd to develop Folders Meadow in Burgess Hill.

The greenfield site in Folders Lane is used for grazing horses and campaigners say the area would be wrecked by the houses.

Mid Sussex District Council received 371 objections to the bid and rejected the application but developers have appealed and the final decision will be made by Government planning inspectors this autumn.

The deadline for objections from the public is today.

Members of Folders Meadow Action Group, made up of local residents, united against the plans Mr Soames said: "I have been working closely with councillors Andrew Landriani and Andrew Barrett-Miles and I have studied in detail the objections that have been raised by my constituents and the local action groups.

"I first met a delegation from Folders Lane in 2000 and in view of the legitimate concerns that were raised I have made vigorous representations to the Planning Inspectorate against the appeal.

"I wholeheartedly support the district council in its opposition to this proposal.

Mid Sussex is under huge pressure to accommodate the Government's overly ambitious housing targets and it is vital that open areas such as these Meadows are protected."