Hey you, get off of my land

Rolling Stone Keith Richards has won his fight to move a public footpath away from his £1.5 million country home.

The guitarist wanted to move footpath 32, near his Elizabethan home, Redlands, to safeguard his privacy and security. The route is currently about 10 metres from the house in West Wittering, West Sussex, which is surrounded by a deep moat and bushes.

But the guitarist said fans would stare in from the footpath, and some had tried to climb through the hedges and cross the moat. West Sussex county council's rights of way committee voted to move the path - against their own officer's advice. It will be moved about 150 metres from his house, and will be combined with a cycle path.

Committee chairman Bill Acraman said: "We felt Mr Richards's privacy was paramount. We were told about the attack on George Harrison at his home a number of years ago and we live in an age when celebrities can be targets for all sorts of weirdos."

Richards, 58, has owned Redlands since 1966. In 1967 it was the scene of a notorious drugs bust. However he is an infrequent visitor, spending most of his time at his homes in the US and France for tax reasons.

He is currently in the States with the Stones at the start of their 40th anniversary world tour.