Hundreds of people in Peacehaven have signed a petition against plans to allow a school to take over an historic field.

East Sussex County Council wants to build on Joff Field to provide school offices, storage areas, changing rooms and six all-weather tennis and football pitches for the new £30 million Peacehaven Community School.

But locals say the field has been used by generations of residents and are angry it could be fenced off.

Peacehaven Town Council's planning committee has added its voice to the wave of protest, promising to fight the application by the county council.

Chairman Alan Byng said: "There are already too few amenities in Peacehaven and if this is taken away there will be one less. Joff has been well used for a long, long time and we don't want this to be another area lost and fenced off."

The town council said the school could use land to the east rather than build on Joff Field.

Its views will be presented to Lewes District Council, which will make a final decision.

So far, more than 500 signatures have been collected on a petition and 300 letters asking people to write to the council to object have been posted through letterboxes.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: "This piece of land is not a public right of way. It has always been held by the county council for educational purposes.

"As part of the development of the school, we need to provide additional recreational facilities. Far from being to the detriment of the local community, these all-weather facilities will enhance what is available as they will be available for hire at evenings and weekends.

"The county council will be improving sporting facilities, which will be good for both the school and the community."