Ramblers are putting their feet down and fighting to save a footpath near a listed house.

Stanmer Preservation Society has organised a campaign to stop the owners of Stanmer House in Brighton from fencing offapublic highway.

It claims many park users are outraged that the muchused footpath, which goes through the Italian Gates and leads to the open access land beyond, might be lost when the Grade I listed building is restored.

Jenny Lyon, from the group, said: "Although the path has been used for a long time it does not seem to appear on the definitive map held by the council which records rights of way.

"In order to add the path and save it, the society needs to show that people have used this path, without being stopped, for the last 20 years.

"It needs your evidence now of any use you have made of the path during that time. Otherwise this muchused and muchloved footpath will be lost forever."

Stanmer House opened for business in June 2006.

The uproar against the footpath comes as the owners have applied to the local authority to install a 1.7-metre fence outside the property.

Initial plans were rejected by the council earlier this year and an appeal has been lodged.

In the revised planning application Cherrywood Investments claims that photographs from the early 20th century show the garden fenced over the unplanted bank.

It is expected that Brighton and Hove city council will make its decision by Friday, April 8.

Millionaire property developer Mike Holland, who is chairman of the firm, was unavailable to comment.

To back the campaign visit www.stanmer.org.uk/ footpath. php