A landowner has promised urgent action to evict a large group of travellers from a Southwick beauty spot.

David Bowerman, a former High Sheriff of West Sussex, has instructed his solicitors to begin immediate legal proceedings to get the group thrown off Southwick Hill.

He has apologised to residents whose homes back on to the hill, which has sweeping views of the South Downs.

They claim their lives have been made a misery by activities at the site since the travellers arrived ten days ago.

Shoreham police have been flooded with complaints from residents and people who use a public footpath across the land to walk their dogs.

Dozens of people have complained they have been bitten by dogs from the site while walking past.

A police officer also says he was bitten by an animal as he tried to speak to people living in the 20 caravans at the site.

Sergeant Ian Cooke said: "There have been real problems up there and we have been inundated with complaints.

"The fire brigade has been up there several times to deal with fires, which have got out of control as the travellers burn rubbish and tree branches from work they have been doing.

"The residents are angry the police cannot take action to move the travellers on but, because it is private land, we are powerless to do anything.

"It is up to the landowner to get a court order and I understand he is now doing that."

Hospital worker Julie Nightingale, of Upper Kingston Lane, Southwick, said residents were furious the matter had been left for so long.

She said: "We have got vehicles from the site racing up and down until as late as 2am and the state of the place is disgusting.

"There is a generator going all night long, which makes it difficult for my husband to sleep. He has a heart condition and is awaiting an operation."

Mr Bowerman, owner of Champs Hill Gardens, near Pulborough, said: "I share the outrage and desperation the people who live there have experienced.

"As soon as I was told what had happened, I instructed my solicitors to take action to have the travellers removed.

"That was on Thursday last week but with the Easter break I don't think they were able to get the application into court until now.

"I am sorry residents have had to put up with this and I shall take every action possible to prevent it happening again."

One of the travellers, who did not want to be named, said: "We have come from the Portsmouth area and will be staying for about a week.

"We have kept our vans away from the houses to avoid disturbing the people who live there. I don't know anything about a policeman being bitten."