Campaigners have vowed to do whatever they can to keep one of the last lidos in Sussex open.

At two public meetings attended by hundreds of people yesterday, a panel consisting of three different community groups asked residents what they wanted to happen to Saltdean Lido and the grade II listed art deco building.

The Save Saltdean Lido Campaign was set up after the building's leaseholder, Dennis Audley, revealed proposals earlier this month to build 102 flats on the site and fill in the pool.

The plans, which are yet to be submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council, caused outrage among Saltdean residents who said the redevelopment would ruin the iconic building.

Yesterday’s meetings were jointly chaired by the Saltdean Residents' Association, Saltdean Community Association and the Save Saltdean Lido Campaign.

Organisers had to turn people away from the first meeting after they reached full capacity and people were told to come back for the second meeting at 3.30pm.

Rebecca Crook, from the Save Saltdean Lido Campaign, said they were looking at several different options to save the lido including applying for Grade II* listed status. The other idea is for the community to try to lease and run the lido.