Protesters dressed as trees joined grandparents and children in an attempt to save ancient woodland from developers.

About 100 people with banners and placards demonstrated against plans for hundreds of new homes in West Durrington, Worthing.

The town's borough council has earmarked the land for more than 800 homes and a business estate.

There have already been several demonstrations against the scheme to widen and straighten Titnore Lane to provide access to the new development.

Protesters say this will lead to the loss of hundreds of trees.

Campaigners from Protect Our Woodland! staged their latest protest outside Durrington Community Centre on Saturday.

The centre was the venue for an exhibition of the plans.

Protester Dawn Smith, 47, from Worthing, dressed up as a tree for the demonstration.

She said: "I am dressed this way to highlight their plight. We have to stop people concreting over everything.

"If we carry on as we are, there will be no countryside left."

Worthing Green Party member John Dwyer said residents could take direct action to stop the development.

He said: "We will not give up. We are doing this for us and our children."

Monday September 15, 2003