Charity abseils down the cliffs at Peacehaven are set to be banned.

Town councillors are demanding action to stop groups making the 100ft descent.

The move follows members of the Mothers' Union abseiling down the cliffs at the weekend and on some occasions as many as 60 people a day have had a go.

Now Peacehaven Town Council say it must stop before it and Lewes District Council are faced with a huge bill for damages.

There is also fear councils could be faced with huge liability costs if someone were killed or badly injured.

Councillors say it is "ridiculous" for time and money to be spent on protecting the cliffs only for groups to come along and damage them. In the past few years, £1.25 million has been spent at Peacehaven on improving sea defences and making cliffs safe.

Now they are calling on Lewes District Council to stop giving permission for groups to abseil.

Paul Cosham, chairman of the planning and highways committee on the town council, said: "Residents and councillors find it baffling that more than a million pounds has been spent on the undercliff walkway to help protect it from erosion, yet Lewes District Council lets groups of people abseil down them on a regular basis.

"I do not understand how it can be lending its support to the Coastal Defence Strategy Group on the one hand, yet still allow damage, albeit unintended, through abseiling."

Town council leader Tony Howard added: "I think it is disgraceful people from outside the area frequently come to Peacehaven, damage our cliffs then go away, leaving us to pick up the bill.

"I have never seen anything go through the council minutes regarding permission for the cliffs to be used for abseiling, neither has my wife, Pauline who is on Lewes District Council."

Lewes District Council is in the process of replying to the town council.