In pictures: Demonstration held in Hurstpierpoint against proposals for thousands of homes

The protest took place from 9am to 11am.

It was held on Hurstpierpoint village green, with residents holding placards.

Resident Tony Ramirez said: “Despite the rain the residents of Hurstpierpoint came out in force to show their disapproval to the College Lane development.”

Keep Hurst a Village was at the event, alongside members of College Lane Action Group.

Laura Galloway, from Keep Hurst A Village, said campaigners warn that the area is facing an ‘existential threat’.

She said: “Hurstpierpoint, Sayers Common, and Albourne, all situated at the foot of the South Downs National Park, are currently fighting multiple speculative housing applications totalling more than 5,900 new homes.

“Hurstpierpoint is defined by its conservation areas and a 15th-century street pattern entirely unsuited to modern, heavy traffic. Residents argue the High Street is already severely overloaded, and adding the traffic from nearly 6,000 new households will bring the historic road network to a permanent standstill.

“Local public services are already failing to meet current demand. The Mid Sussex Health Centre is operating at full capacity. Furthermore, emergency services, including ambulances and fire brigades, already struggle to navigate heavily congested areas like College Lane.

“The proposed development sites sit on heavy Weald clay, notorious for becoming easily waterlogged. Campaigners warn that laying thousands of homes and concrete surfaces over this landscape will trigger disastrous surface water flooding, overwhelming an already failing sewage network whilst destroying some of West Sussex's most biologically diverse habitats.”

Signs about the campaign have appeared all over Hurstpierpoint in recent weeks.

This has raised more than £4,700 so far and people can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/stop-major-development-in-hurstpierpoint.

Visit www.keephurstavillage.co.uk.