A man has won a battle to stop his road name being changed - despite neighbours claiming it gives the street a bad reputation.

Residents were so fed up with people poking fun at the name of their road they voted to change it.

They said The Bricky in Peacehaven had suffered a poor image over the years and a change to Field View Close would remove the stigma.

Lewes District Council agreed to the change after a house-to-house poll by The Bricky and Cinquefoil Residents' Association found 82 per cent of the 78 per cent of people who responded were in favour of a new name.

But less than a month before the scheduled changeover on February 1, resident Paul Snelgrove objected and lodged an appeal at Lewes Magistrates Court.

After months of wrangling, Mr Snelgrove and the residents' association agreed to a further postal survey to be undertaken by the council.

Both parties agreed the name would only be changed if 65 per cent of residents agreed.

But the street was split almost 50/50. Of 52 households surveyed, 73 per cent responded, with 18 in favour of a change and 19 against.

The council has dropped plans to rename the road.

Victorious Mr Snelgrove said: "The original residents' survey was not done properly. They came round with just a scrap of paper.

"The residents' association is just a small group of people and I didn't think it was representing the whole street.

"Personally, I can see no advantage to changing the name because I think it's the people who live in an area that make it what it is, not a name."

Residents' association treasurer Janice Townson said she was disgusted at how things had turned out.

She said: "I'm upset because it was done and dusted. People round here are just confused now.

"Kids were getting teased and bullied about coming from The Bricky.

"There is a stigma because of how it used to be a few years ago although it's nothing like that now."

The council said the saga had cost nothing except staff time and the cost of stamps for the survey.