A blocked footpath linked to millionaire killer Nicholas Hoogstraten's Sussex estate which has been at the centre of a long-running dispute should reopen in early March.

East Sussex County Council has ordered liquidators acting for bankrupt landowner Rarebargain to clear the obstructions and reopen the path within 28 days.

Hoogstraten branded ramblers "scum" and "riff-raff" when they drew attention to the dispute by walking the route, blocked by barbed wire, locked gates, a barn and refrigeration unit.

John Paylor, of liquidators David Rubin and Co, said: "When the notices are received, we will see what we can do about getting it cleared."

The council's ruling cabinet heard yesterday a controversial diversion order to bypass the obstructions had been revoked and the notice to clear the path served.

We reported on Wednesday the council faced a legal bill of £76,000 after losing a High Court battle over the diversion.

Countryside campaign-er Kate Ashbrook, who successfully challenged the diversion in the courts, said: "It is excellent news the path is to be reopened after all this time.

"But it should have been reopened 13 years ago, when this matter was first reported to the county council. It is wonderful at last people will be able to use this path."

Ramblers have complained for years the path, at Hoogstraten's Hamilton Palace estate at Palehouse Common, near Uckfield, was unusable because of obstructions.

The land where the blocked parts of the path are was transferred to Rarebargain shortly before ramblers staged their walk along the route in 1999.

Nicholas Von Hessen, a pseudonym often used by Hoogstraten, resigned as a director of the company a few weeks before it took control of the land.

Rarebargain was repeatedly fined by the courts for not clearing the path before it went into liquidation, owing more than £100,000 in unpaid fines and court costs.

Nigel Sloan, of Sussex Ramblers, said: "I am delighted after many years perseverance we are close to achieving a victory but of course we are not quite there yet."

The council said it expected the path to be open and following its original route early in March. It said it always intended to have the obstructions cleared if the diversion plan was rejected.

Hoogstraten was jailed for manslaughter last year for his part in the killing of rival landlord Mohammed Raja.