Villagers could use an ancient Royal Decree to prevent HGV lorries driving through their narrow winding streets.

Residents in Pevensey have the power, under the 1207 Pevensey Charter signed by King John, to close the B2191, which runs through the centre of the village, every Sunday.

Keith Belcher, secretary of the village market association, said: "In 1207, which is eight years before the Magna Carta, King John signed a charter granting Pevensey people the right to hold Sunday markets without let or hindrance and it says with all the rights and appertinences thereto, which means we can hold a market what the hell."

He said villagers had been fighting in vain for years to ban heavy goods vehicles from the village, but that on Easter Sunday the centuries old right might be invoked.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to visit the historic market later this month. Mr Belcher said that in the interests of safety it could prove necessary to close the road.

Mr Belcher said: "The B2191 runs right through the square so maybe we'll stop the lorries - they're only 100 years old, but we have an 800 year old right. If necessary we shall drag a couple of stalls into the road.

"It's a shame we can't get in touch with King John and change things to cover the whole week."

Mr Belcher has also been in contact with English Heritage to draw attention to the damage traffic is doing to the listed Old Mint House, once home to 16th century writer Andrew Borde.

Residents in the sleepy Sussex village are blaming satellite navigation systems for their Roman castle slowly crumbling.

The 1,800-year-old structure is being shaken by the vibrations of heavy traffic directed through the area by the gadgets.

Caterer Pauline Turner, 59, presented a letter and eight-page petition to Eastbourne Borough Council, calling on it to step in and reduce the number of HGVs rattling through the village.

Ms Turner said: "Large lorries should go on the Polegate bypass, that's what it was built for, but they're passing through the village instead.

"Sat-nav systems are partly to blame because the village is the shortest route even if it's not the quickest."