A landowner has become embroiled in a row with ramblers after fencing off a plot of downland.

Chris Ellis, who owns Hangleton Farm Stables in Ferring, has put part of Highdown Hill, north of the village, out of bounds so his horses can use it.

Although he has the blessing of the National Trust, dog walkers and ramblers say they have lost an ancient right of way.

Wendy Smith, a dog walker from Ferring, said: "The fencing sticks right out and means anyone who wants to walk through this area has to go around it.

"I wouldn't want my dogs to get anywhere near it with horses inside."

Another dog walker Debbie Peters said: "I'm quite surprised he has been allowed to do it.

We've lost quite a segment of the downland which a lot of people use."

Jan Antonowicz, who also owns land on Highdown Hill, said he believed the right of way was enshrined in ancient law.

He pointed to documents which show that in 1930 the then Worthing Rural Council made a resolution preventing the upper slopes of Highdown Hill "being anything other than an open space".

But West Sussex County Council confirmed that Mr Ellis has not done anything wrong.

It said it was sending inspectors to Highdown Hill to find out exactly what work has been carried out and was investigating the possibility that Mr Ellis had closed gates to his land.

Mr Ellis, who has transformed much of the southern slopes of Highdown Hill, planting hundreds of oak trees, said he was perfectly happy for people to walk across his land where a public right of way was established.

But he said the extra fencing was within his rights.

He told The Argus: "We're always open to people who want to walk across the fields where there is a right of way but the section we've just fenced was done in agreement with the National Trust.

"We've been clearing the land for the horses to use and have put a lot of work into getting debris out of it.

"I regularly spend hours up here getting bits of metal out it which are uncovered when it rains and we look after the land.

"We're not evil-doers at all and people are welcome to walk on land which is a public right of way here."