Film star Michael York is so appalled by the modernisation of his parent's former house that he refuses to walk past it.

The star of Cabaret, Three Musketeers and Young Winston, has joined the growing band of local residents concerned at the changes to Owlet Cottage, St Martin's Lane, in the heart of historic Lewes' conservation area.

Leading architect Nick Wiseman, 63, has spent more than £100,000 doubling the size of the property with a pitched roof, new staircases and the complete rebuilding of a former conservatory.

Mr Wiseman has renamed the Sixties-style house The Prospect. Builders were this week putting finishing touches to the extensive renovations Mr Wiseman, who once worked as an architect for East Sussex County Council, insists everything has been done by the book and passed by councillors and officials.

Even before Michael York voiced his concerns at what was happening to Owlet Cottage, residents were mounting campaigns to try and stop the changes to what was previously a flat-roofed property.

There were scores of objections to the changes, which were eventually passed by councillors. Residents used words like "aggressive and overpowering" to describe the plans.

Owlets was the home of Michael's father Joe and his late mother, May, for more than ten years.

Michael, who was brought up in Sussex, frequently stayed at the house while filming in the south of England. He now spends most of the time with his family in Beverley Hills, California.

Alerted to the changes by his younger sister, Caroline, who lives in Lewes, Michael went to have a look and immediately criticised what had been done.

In an email received by The Argus, the 63-year-old Oxford educated actor said: "I am appalled to see the horrible fate that has overtaken my parents beloved and formerly modest house in St Martin's Lane.

"It has been transformed into a sort of gaudy alpine chalet with a huge added-on red roof that effectively doubles its size, and decked out with lurid yellow and blue paintwork.

"The view of the town from the south looking up St Martin's Lane has been effectively ruined. The homogeneity of the town's buildings with their mellow bricks, flints and tiles has been mangled by this attention-grabbing intruder whose decor would be more appropriate at a fast-food outlet.

"How on earth was this allowed to happen? Surely a town as historically significant as Lewes must have a conservation policy to protect it against such visual and cultural sabotage. "

The star is asking planners and councillors to tell Mr Wiseman to reduce the size of the pitched roof and redecorate the previously red brick properly so it is in better keeping with the area.

"I used to enjoy my walk from the station to the town centre to visit my sister via St Martin's Lane, and regret that I am now obliged to take a different route to prevent me having to see this hideous blot on the landscape."

Peter Groom, 68, a retired civil servant, whose house overlooks the modernised property, said: "I knew the flat roof needed to be replaced but nobody expected to see such a large pitched roof.

"We are in a conservation area and I want to know what the parameters are. The yellow rendering does not fit in.

"I cannot understand how a property has been allowed to change and double in size in a conservation area where people cannot sometimes change the colour of their front doors"

Mr Wiseman and his wife Lynn, 61, insist they have improved the property.

Mr Wiseman said: "It is our own house and we are improving it.

"Everything has been approved by the council and is appropriate to a conservation area.

"There was some opposition to the changes but there was no objection from Mr York.

"We want to live here for a long time and be happy here like his parents."