The South Downs stretch from East Sussex to Hampshire

Comments had to be submitted to the Countryside Agency by the end of Friday - and more than 6,000 people had already expressed their opinions on the plans by lunchtime.

It is thought likely the government will call for a public inquiry into whether the area will be given national park status.

Local councils are believed to be among the groups to have objected to the plans.

The South Downs extend across 116km from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Winchester in Hampshire.

Attempts have been made to obtain national park status to protect the area for more than 100 years.

Fears over traffic

The latest boundaries for the proposed park area were outlined in November.

An original draft of the boundaries was changed following a previous period of public consultation and extended to include some extra areas.

Objections have been raised to the South Downs getting national park status and to the proposed boundaries.

Among those who have previously voiced concerns over the granting of national park status are local authorities such as Lewes District Council who fear it would attract a higher number of visitors to the area, causing traffic problems.

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club urged its fans to object to the boundaries because they run too close to the site of the club's planned new stadium at Falmer.

And some landowners have objected, fearing national park status would result in tighter planning controls.

The Countryside Agency says the area would benefit from being made a national park, saying it would be "a significant step to securing the protection and future management of this nationally important and much loved area".

But it has admitted a public inquiry looks "inevitable" with the number of objections received.