A property tycoon who branded ramblers "scum" has lost a legal battle with walkers over a footpath crossing his estate.

Controversial millionaire Nicholas Van Hoogstraten blocked the path with barbed wire, refrigeration units and a barn in a 10-year campaign to keep ramblers off his estate near Uckfield, East Sussex.

But Lewes Magistrates Court ruled on Friday that the move was illegal and fined the company Rarebargain - registered owner of the land over which the path runs - �1,600, with �3,500 costs.

The path runs close to the 54-year-old tycoon's �30m palace in which, when completed, he plans to house numerous art treasures and where he is building a personal mausoleum.

The Ramblers Association showed in court that that Mr Van Hoogstraten's estate had blocked the 100-year-old footpath, leaving it impassable for more than a decade.

'Scum of the earth'

Over the years the association has staged a number of protests at the footpath blockade.

In an outburst against the walkers in 1998, Mr Hoogstraten branded ramblers "the scum of the earth" and described them as "the great unwashed".

Ramblers' Association spokeswoman Kate Ashbrook said: "Today's ruling is a victory for the British public, which quite naturally expects that all public footpaths are kept open for people to enjoy.

"The footpath network is part of our common heritage and the Ramblers' Association will do everything in its power to defend the rights of the public."

Mr Hoogstraten, who is currently in France, was unavailable for comment.

The case was first due to be heard in September last year but was adjourned when the previous owner of the land, Hamilton Palace Ltd, denied the accusations.

A spokeswomen for the association said: "At the moment the path is still blocked so that is still a problem. East Sussex County Council may now clear the path and send Rarebargain the bill.

"But Mr Hoogstraten cannot now say that the path does not exist, which is what he has said up till now."