Stones star wins privacy battle to move footpath

The guitarist for the Rolling Stones, Keith Richard, has won his campaign to protect the privacy and security of his country home from "nutters and paparazzi" by rerouting a footpath.

The 60-year-old, currently touring in America, wanted the path moved away from the rural retreat in West Sussex that he bought in 1966 and where, a year later, he and Mick Jagger were arrested by police during a drugs raid.

Richard claimed ramblers could peer into the grounds of his home so he asked West Sussex County Council to move the path because it comes as close as 10 metres from his thatched house, manicured lawns and moat. At a council rights-of-way committee meeting, councillors voted to divert the path to the other side of a field, taking walkers away from the property.

The chairman, Bill Acraman, said: "Someone well known is more vulnerable ... We are well aware of what the paparazzi do. We are well aware of what nutters can do.

"Whether they be Prime Minister or pop star, they are more vulnerable than you or I. I strongly feel we should be able to go the extra mile."

Councillor Louise Goldsmith said that while walking the route, she could see people playing football, which she said was "quite intrusive".