POLICE in Sussex are using Mayday-style intimidation to try and scupper a protest on Sunday against destruction of ancient woodland.
They have deployed scare tactics in a desperate attempt to stop hundreds of sympathetic local people turning out to support the Save Titnore Woods demonstration.
A massive groundswell of opposition has sprung up to the proposed building of 800-plus houses plus road widening at Durrington on the edge of Worthing.
The local Tories, who supported the scheme, were forced to admit it was one of the main factors why they lost control of the borough council in the recent elections.
Now the police, together with the local media in the form of the Worthing Guardian, are trying to scare people away from defending their countryside.
Friday's edition of the free newspaper, delivered over the weekend, carries the huge front page headline "Don't Walk Into Trees Trouble".
The story declares: "Police fear that militant eco-activists will take over the demonstration being held at Durrington on Sunday."
A police spokesman is quoted as claiming that the protest was not allowed under the Public Order Act because organisers had not given six six days' notice.
He added: "If the Newbury veterans turn up they are quite militant and if they decide to tramp across fields they will damage crops and disturb livestock.
"They cause local action groups more problems than anything. They take over and railroad the protest, things get out of hand and that's when criminal damage and the resulting problems occur.
"If an undesirable element takes over, the local people are tarred with the militants' brush."
The story does quote a spokesman from campaign group Protect Our Woodland as saying the protest will go ahead whatever.
The meeting point on Sunday is 2pm at the Titnore Lane entrance to Northbrook College, Durrington, just off the A259 Littlehampton Road west of Worthing and just north of Goring-by-Sea railway station.
More info on the background at www.worthinga27.freeserve.co.uk or from the local independent newsletter The Porkbolter at www.eco-action.org/porkbolter