An MP has praised the "warriors" who protect the city's "best green space". 

Friends Lou McCurdy and Polly Strauss have campaigned to protect Hove Community Field in Old Shoreham Road from development for ten years.

The pair run the Friends of the Field group and have helped save the area, which is the city’s biggest open green space, from development several times.

They stopped it from being covered by an all-weather hockey pitch with floodlights, a three-metre fence being built around it and even then-education secretary Michael Gove’s plans for a new school.

On Saturday, July 8, Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, went down to the field to mark the unveiling of a new noticeboard, hedge and community composting space.

The new mayor Councillor Jackie O’Quinn was also there to celebrate.

Mr Kyle congratulated the Friends’ group “warriors” for their great work.

Polly said: “It was a joyous celebration of our field. Thanks to everyone who came along.”

Ecologist Graeme Lyons, from Hove, has recorded more than 300 species in the field including rare finds like the pantaloon bee and small emerald butterfly.

“These are significant records for the field and show that by not mowing right to the edge we can create wild flourishing verges for nature,” said Lou.