Villagers worried about escalating violence around their train station are calling for CCTV cameras.

They fear Hassocks could become a no-go area at night without the extra security.

Yesterday five youths were arrested near the station after a man was kicked unconscious on a London-bound train.

Hassocks Amenity Association correspondence secretary Gina Field, 63, told how she was intimidated by a drunken group of youths near the station and another time she was spat at.

She said: "People do not see the downland villages as high risk but, with hundreds of new homes coming into the area, pressure is going to be put on the stations and their immediate surroundings.

"You talk about gangs of youths hanging about but they are not always local - they come up to the village by train.

"The underpass at night is a no-go area. I would rather get a taxi all the way from Haywards Heath station, which costs a lot."

Villagers are worried yesterday's attack is indicative of a deeper problem.

The station has its own CCTV system but residents would like this extended along the main street, Keymer Road.

Mrs Field added: "The cameras are very expensive. You are talking £30,000 for a new CCTV camera. Under a new Home Office initiative, you can get match funding but I can't see us raising £15,000.

"While we have lots of businesses and shops, we do not have a large corporation in Hassocks that could put some money in."

Mrs Field said a representative from Govia, the train operator which will be taking over the line, is due to talk about the future of the station in June.

In the meantime, Hassocks Parish Council was investigating cheaper CCTV systems.

Sergeant Jason Hazzard, of Burgess Hill Police, said: "CCTV is an excellent crime deterrent.

"The funding is the problem. There was a capital funding bid from the Government in December and the authority partnerships had to apply for funding. That was not done here.

"The next round of bidding won't be until after the election."

Sgt Hazzard confirmed that, if the village were to pay for the system and cabling, the police would be able to link it to their system and monitor it.