Angmering villagers are horrified at the destruction of a picturesque country lane to make way for a £5 million bypass.

Dog-walkers and horse-riders said they were shocked at the scale of the devastation.

Until recently, High Street was a leafy track, hardly changed since Victorian times, leading to historic Highdown Hill overlooking Worthing.

But now, dozens of trees on either side of the road, just east of the Spotted Cow pub, have been felled, ruining its rural charm.

The avenue of sycamores and limes was axed prior to construction of the Angmering bypass, which will link the A259 Worthing to Littlehampton Road and the A27.

Rex Thomas, of High Street, said people had been genuinely shocked at the destruction of the lane.

He said: "From a visual aspect it is very sad. We all have to accept change but I don't think they have done the right thing."

Mr Thomas said work on the bypass had been postponed last year because of the foot-and-mouth crisis but contractors were expected to arrive early in April and spend about ten months on the scheme.

The bypass is being built at the same time as 600 homes in a development called Bramley Green to the east of Roundstone Lane.

There will be no direct road link between the new estate and the bypass.