Ramblers are fighting to save a public footpath running through a £20 million estate.

Millionaire Charles Pearson wants to divert the path away from Pitshill House, his Georgian mansion near Petworth, to improve security and privacy before his family moves in.

The dilapidated house needs a £7 million refurbishment but Mr Pearson has insisted he will only carry out the repairs if he gets his way.

The Ramblers' Association has accused him of "moral blackmail" and insisted he should not have bought the property if he did not want ramblers using the grounds.

Nigel Sloan, of the West Sussex Ramblers' Association, said: "Rights of way are part of our heritage in the same way as Georgian houses are part of our heritage.

"The path gives a dramatic view of the South Downs but the diversion goes round the back of the estate rather than following the natural line of the land.

"The right of way runs behind an 8ft high stone wall so it's ridiculous to say privacy is compromised.

"If landowners have special needs regarding security, then they shouldn't buy a property which has a right of way running down the middle of it in the expectation that it will be just a formality to get that right of way diverted."

Wealthy landowner Mr Pearson bought Pitshill House seven years ago. It has aPortland stone facade, lake, stables, paddocks and meadows, and is set in 88 acres near the village of Tillington.

Mr Pearson says protecting his family's privacy means re-routing part of the public right of way which runs along Pitshill's drive and through the narrow cutting separating the house from its stable block.

Meanwhile he is living with his wife Lila and their two children, 11-year-old Carinthia and George, nine, at their 45-acre farmhouse estate in the nearby village of Lickfold.

Mr Pearson, 49, said: "The refurbishment will cost a huge amount of money and it's difficult to justify that with the way things are."

His plans include rebuilding the eight-bedroom mansion's top floor which rotted and was demolished by the previous owner, Sir Colville Barclay.

Mr Pearson also wants to restore two 18th Century buildings, a house with shells on the wall and an ice house used for preserving food.

He has already spent thousands of pounds providing an alternative path, skirting the property through pasture and woodland.

An application for this to become the right of way will be heard by Chichester District Council and could go to a public inquiry.

Mr Pearson said the existing right of way means his children would be vulnerable if cycling or walking from the house to the stable block at night.

Horse riders and walkers would be at risk from cars driving through the narrow drive leading to the mansion.

He said: "If it was only the ramblers using the right of way there would be no problem. Our children are growing up fast and we bought this house in the hope they would grow up here.

"The alternative route we are offering offers as good if not better views. It gives the most incredible panoramic view right the way from Arundel round to Cocking, which must be a distance of 20 miles."

@theargus.co.uk