RESIDENTS of a Gwent village are delighted that 'feudal' laws that could cost them up to £60,000 each could be scrapped.

Mark Tudor, a Cardiff businessman, has demanded that around 40 residents of Peterstone pay him nine per cent of the value of their homes - as much as £60,000 in some cases - in return for access rights.

Many of the residents have lived there for decades, believing they have access to parts of the 26 acres of Broadstreet Common, now owned by Mr Tudor, who holds the title The Lord Marcher of Trelleck.

Yesterday, during a parliamentary debate, David Lammy, constitutional affairs minister, said the Lord Chancellor would decide later this year whether to scrap the law being used by Mr Tudor.

Allan Webber, 54, of Meadow View, a spokesman for the residents' action group, said: "This is wonderful news for the people of Peterstone. It finally looks like this archaic law will be changed.

"We've scuppered his (Mr Tudor's) chances. Did he honestly think we would pay up to a man we have never seen and had never heard of?" Mr Lammy welcomed the decision by Welsh Environment Minister Carwyn Jones to speed the extension to Wales of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

The act would limit the amount of money Mr Roberts can demand from the families in the village, but the villagers would still face paying two per cent. Mr Webber said: "A reduction to two per cent would save us a heck of a lot, but this law needs to be abolished altogether."

Mr Lammy ruled out any cash help for the villagers in defending themselves against the demands by Mr Roberts and his solicitors, Darwin Gray of Cardiff.

He told Newport West MP Paul Flynn: "There are no special funds available."