Heritage groups fighting to save four bronze busts said to be worth millions of pounds have been backed by leading figures in the art world.

Conservationists met in the shadow of Dame Elisabeth Frink's Desert Quartet statues in Worthing town centre to proclaim: "They shall not be moved."

Developer Humphrey Avon, who commissioned the statues as part of the Montague Centre shopping precinct in the late Eighties, insists he owns them.

But opponents say he gifted them to Worthing and pointed to comments made by Lord Palumbo, former chairman of the Arts Council, who was present at their unveiling in 1990.

Lord Palumbo said he understood the statues to be a gift to the town from an enlightened benefactor to the town and would remain there forever.

Sir Christopher Frayling, current chairman of the Arts Council, said the bronze heads were a remarkable achievement for Worthing.

He said Dame Elisabeth created the Desert Quartet specifically for the site overlooking Liverpool Gardens and the offices of Mr Avon.

Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate Gallery, said: "There can be no aesthetic grounds for the removal of the Desert Quartet."

Mr Avon launched a competition, with a £10,000 first prize, to find a new set of sculptures to replace Frink's work.

The winner is expected to be announced shortly but Mr Avon faces opposition from the 20th Century Society, the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association and the Worthing Society.

The Worthing Society referred to a statement by Mr Avon in a commemorative brochure to mark the unveiling of the statues almost 17 years ago.

He said then: "The inclusion of a major new work by Dame Elisabeth Frink adds further distinction to the development and benefits a town which has few noteworthy examples of statuary."

However, the Desert Quartet were met with derision by the general public in 1990 with one former Worthing mayor, Herbie Golds, suggesting they should be shipped to Easter Island.

Another critic likened them to Italian wartime leader Benito Mussolini.

Joseph Mirwitch, a trustee of the 20th Century Society, said such criticisms were levelled a long time ago.

He claimed the statues were now a much-loved landmark and plans to replace them were an outrage.

He said: "There is nothing comparable in any town in south east England."

Mr Avon has not said what he planned to do with the statues if they were removed and had no idea of their value.

Mr Mirwitch believed they would command a reserve price of more than £2 million if they were ever auctioned.

Jo Darke, director of the Public Monuments Association, said they were the only full set of heads on public display and were therefore unique.

She added: "It contributes to the most extraordinary landscape in a very striking and powerful way."

Mr Avon told The Argus there was a lot of inaccurate information and half truths being published.

Previous attempts to remove and replace the statues had been turned down by borough planners and also on appeal by Government inspectors.

Do you like the Desert Quartet statues or do you think they should be replaced with sculptures specifically designed for the site? Have you say, add your comments below.