HERITAGE lovers have backed a campaign to save a Sussex landmark.

The Kemp Town Conservation Society claims the threatened French Convalescent Home on Brighton seafront is unique and should not be bulldozed.

The Argus launched a campaign to save the imposing chateau-style building after developers Bovis Retirement Homes earmarked it for demolition.

The firm wants to replace the home with 67 flats, which would mean 40 elderly residents losing their home and staff being made redundant.

Now the society has written to English Heritage to persuade it to list the building and protect it from the bulldozers.

Chairman Colin Still said: "It is our view that the building has an innate interest both architecturally and historically and contributes greatly to the visual amenities of the immediate area."

He said despite changes made to the original building, it still exhibited "an unusual flamboyance and uniqueness of style, making it more than worthy of preservation".

An English Heritage inspector visited the home last week to file a report on its possible merits for listing.

Home manager Catherine Gennaro and Brighton Kemp Town Labour MP Des Turner will meet Heritage Minister Alan Howarth tomorrow to persuade him to list the home.

The Government initially said it would not protect the 101-year-old building.

But English Heritage agreed to an inspection after it was discovered the original decision may have been made without a site visit.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.