A town is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a special exhibition.

Until the beginning of the 19th Century, Littlehampton was a small village whose population earned its living largely by fishing and farming.

But the growing holiday trade, its increasingly busy port and the arrival of the railway in 1863 led to rapid growth.

In 1801 Littlehampton had a population of 584, which rose to 2,468 by 1851, 5,954 in 1901 and approximately 27,375 today.

In 1853 the port/resort got its own local government for the first time, and adopted the motto Progress, which is still in use today.

Councillor John Singleton, chairman of Littlehampton Town Council's community resources committee, said: "When we look at Littlehampton, it is easy to forget only 200 years ago it was a small village."

The exhibition opens in the Hearne Room of Littlehampton Museum on April 5.