A businessman has defended his controversial plan for an abattoir in a woodland area despite neighbours' protests.

Ron Gander spoke out after opposition from people living near the proposed site at Blackstone Gate woods, Woodmancote, near Henfield.

Residents fear the scheme would ruin their way of life.

But Mr Gander said many abattoirs had closed in Sussex since the Eighties and farmers desperately needed this facility.

He said: "The purpose of this abattoir is to serve livestock producers in the heart of Sussex with access to the South Downs and High Weald which are important grazing areas.

"At the moment, stock from Sussex is travelling to slaughter as far afield as Wales, Warwickshire and Suffolk.

"One organic producer I know has to go to St Merryn in Cornwall."

Some residents said they would sell up and move home if the abattoir was built.

More than 500 people joined the protest against the 30-unit mini abattoir off Wheatsheaf Road.

Adam Reeves, who has led the protest campaign, said the group would welcome an abattoir if there was a demand but not in a picturesque woodland and not so close to their homes.

The National Farmers Union is supporting the plan and believes it could help reverse the fortunes of West Sussex livestock farmers, still suffering after foot-and-mouth.

A spokesman for the NFU said: "In an increasingly competitive global market, one of the ways forward for smaller livestock farmers is to corner local markets by selling meat direct to the consumer.

"A local abattoir can cater for specialist producers, such as organic farmers, and is good news for animal welfare, the environment and sustainable farming.

"It will mean shorter travelling distances to slaughter for livestock, reduced consumption of fossil fuels and fewer food miles for the consumer."