PETERSTONE residents say they are determined to win a battle with a 'feudal' landlord, after staging a high-profile demonstration yesterday.

Twenty-five villagers travelled to London to highlight their dispute with Mark Roberts, also known as Mark Tudor, a Cardiff businessman who holds the title The Lord Marcher of Trelleck.

Mr Roberts says he holds the rights to Broad Street Common - which villagers must cross to reach their homes - and is demanding up to nine per cent of the value of around 40 residents' homes, in return for access. This, in some cases, would mean as much as £60,000.

The Assembly has since capped the amount at two per cent but residents are not satisfied and want access laws scrapped.

They travelled to Westminster to lend their support to another group of residents, from Newtown Common in Hampshire, who are facing a similar situation and have taken their case to the House of Lords.

One of the Peterstone protesters, Julie Foster, 41, said they had raised £2,500 to go towards the legal costs of the residents from Newtown Common.

"The day went very well and we have had a lot of media coverage," said Mrs Foster.

"I think we are more determined than ever to fight this and we are in full throttle now."

She added: "Everybody is rooting for the Newtown Common residents because they are fighting what could be a test case in the Lords.The result will have far reaching consequences so, hopefully, it will be in favour of the residents."

Newport West MP Paul Flynn said: "Mr Roberts stands to make a million in Peterstone alone if all the residents were to pay out. You can never tell how these things will turn out but there is a feeling of optimism there."