Little could be more evocative of English village life than the gentle thwack of leather on willow.

But there is another sound accompanying the gentle ripple of applause to mark an impressive 'six' in the West Sussex village of East Preston.

It is a shriek of horror from the neighbours.

People whose homes border the village's cricket ground claim they are being bombarded by boundaries.

One has even constructed a makeshift igloo in the back garden of his Sea Lane home to shield his family from flying cricket balls.

Over the years, a host of famous players have graced East Preston Cricket Club's pitch at the Warren Recreation Ground, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Tony Grieg.

Now one neighbour is threatening to stop play if nothing is done to tame the big hitters.

He has warned he will take the matter to court as he seeks a final ruling from the nation's top legal umpires.

Barrie Lemin, 62, was relaxing in his garden when a ball whizzed past, inches from his head.

He said: "I almost got a ball in the face - it would have been full in the face - when I was sitting in the garden reading.

"It's not a case of being a spoilsport. I enjoy a game of cricket but we have been consistently in danger. It's very hard to sit out and feel happy.

"We don't have any problems with the under 14's.

"It's great to hear them enjoying themselves. It's the adults."

Mr Lemin, who has lived with his wife in their 500-year-old Grade II-listed cottage for nine years, said another neighbour's young grandchildren were nearly hit while playing in their garden.

He wants the council to force the club to adopt a system in which sixes count for nothing, taking away the incentive for batsmen to hit the ball high into the air.

These rules are already practised at village cricket grounds near housing elsewhere in Sussex, including in Battle.

He said: "If they disregard this request, having seen other clubs are prepared to adopt the policy, it puts them in a very weakened position, and I would then seek to take advice as regards the convention on human rights.

"I'm hoping my letter showing we are not ignorant of the new laws means they will have no option but to comply."

Mr Lemin has done his homework. He reckons the parish council is contravening Articles Two and Eight of the first part of the Human Rights Act 1998 - covering his right to life and right to respect for private and family life.

He said: "The cricket club's degree of arrogance is unbelievable. They don't answer letters or phone calls. They are doing something that has put residents' lives at risk and they should stop it.

"We live in the village and we try not to make enemies, but the parish council has failed to protect the rights of residents because of its cosy relationship with the club."

Residents of Sea Lane have written to East Preston Parish Council and Arun District Council to suggest the team moves to nearby Langmeads, which is owned by the district council.

But not everyone in the village is upset.

Family doctor Tim Kimber, 43, who has played many times at the ground, insists banning sixes is a non-starter.

He said: "I can't see that happening ever. It would just detract so much from the game. It's got to be played properly or not at all.

"When people bought those houses, they knew there was a cricket ground there."

The recreation ground was left to the village in 1942. East Preston Parish Council, as trustee, is responsible for safety.

Parish clerk Donald Rogers said: "We have to ensure the users of the ground are doing everything reasonable to protect users of the ground and people outside. This problem has been going on for years. The cricket club have erected very high netting, so they are doing everything they can to minimise the problem, and it's difficult at the moment to know what else we can do."

Club captain Steve Bennett, who has been playing at the ground for 25 years, said he had no intention of bringing in the 'six' ban.

He said: "As far as we are concerned, the protection is adequate. We have done everything that has been asked of us by the parish council.

"If Mr Lemin has a complaint he should be referring it to his solicitor who did the property search when he moved in.

"I'm surprised it wasn't pointed out to him there was a cricket ground backing on to his property."

He rejected the idea of making sixes count for nothing, saying: "I wouldn't have thought it would make any difference. If the ball is there to hit, you are going to hit hit. It's instinct."

Mr Bennett said no neighbour of the club had ever been hurt by a ball.

He added: "If he choses to fall asleep in the garden on a Saturday afternoon when the cricket is on he knows there's a risk.

"Human rights apply to cricketers as much as anyone else."