A new rail line through East Sussex would regenerate the county and give Newhaven a much-needed boost, say campaigners.

The line could be created by reopening two short stretches of rail between Lewes and Uckfield and Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells.

Demands for the creation of the Wealden Line by reinstating the two missing links, totalling 12 miles of track, were made at the Southern England Rail Passengers Committee yesterday.

Supporters of the plan said an electrified line with modern trains would allow a direct service to London stations, such as Charing Cross and London Bridge, and link into the Thameslink network through London.

It would give a direct through service from Seaford, calling at Newhaven, Lewes, Uckfield, Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, and possibly stations in south east London.

Campaigner, Brian Hart, said: "We are not talking about a super high speed link cutting through the countryside costing billions.

"We are talking about reopening two sections of track totalling 12 miles at less than two thirds the cost of the Hastings bypass."

The proposal has the support of Kent and East Sussex county councils who have both included the reopening of the Lewes-Tunbridge Wells rail link in their transport plans.

Wendy Toms, chairman of the committee, also supported the scheme.

She said there was a feeling the New Southern Railway was concentrating too much on the Brighton Line.

Martin Walter of Govia, which will run the New Southern Railway, said the company's priority was to run safe, clean and reliable trains.

He said his company was improving the Arun Line as a priority to create an alternative to the Brighton Line.

He said there might be disruptions on the Brighton Line while construction work on the Thameslink 2000 project took place, which would eventually improve rail links.