Residents of Rottingdean are entitled to oppose plans for a futuristic tower block which they feel will block sea views.

But some of them have gone way over the top in attacking architect Alan Phillips and parish councillor Harold Williams.

All Mr Phillips, who has unjustly been called a lunatic, has done is to put in plans for the block which, whatever anyone may think of it, has been carefully designed.

As for Mr Williams, he is not the developer. He has merely sold his home to developers who want to put up the eight-storey building.

He has been vilified, ostracised and forced to resign from the parish council as a result of the row.

Father Martin Morgan, Vicar of Rottingdean, took the right line in pleading for calm when he conducted a family service.

It may well be that city planners will throw out the scheme because it is too big but the submission of the plans did not justify the vile abuse of these two men.