Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ignored heckling from hunt supporters to deliver more than £100,000 to a deprived East Sussex neighbourhood.

Mr Prescott was barracked in Hastings by placard-waving lobbyists from the Countryside Alliance opposed to a Government ban on hunting.

He was in town yesterday to announce a £21 million expansion of Government efforts to revive deprived communities, cut crime and improve the environment.

Under the deal, an extra £110,000 will be given to the Hastings street warden scheme and the South-East will receive £1 million for street wardens and street crime wardens.

The announcement was made after ex-merchant seaman Mr Prescott visited Hastings' Old Town to open an exhibition on the bulk carrier Derbyshire, the largest British merchant ship lost at sea.

But before meeting civic leaders, including Mayor Phil Scott, Mr Prescott faced chanting protesters urging a Government rethink on banning hunting.

Opponents to the Hunting Bill shouted: "Ban the ban" and "Go home, Mr Prescott" as he arrived by Jaguar with Hastings and Rye Labour MP Michael Foster.

The Deputy PM's three-car convoy then headed to the Robsack Estate in Hollington, St Leonards, an area previously tarnished by crime and poor services.

Since becoming the first area in the South-East involved in the Government's neighbourhood management scheme two years ago, its fortunes have changed.

Residents are now involved in community partnership schemes, youth and sporting opportunities have improved and the first ever residents' association formed.

Mr Prescott spoke to street wardens, community leaders and young people, including Hastings Youth MP Phil Carey.

Labour supporter Phil, 19, is involved in Sport4U which organises sports sessions in Hastings and St Leonards for 250 children each week.

Mr Prescott met Grove pupil Amy Wynn, 13, a member of the estate's girls' football team and joked: "Can you bend it like Beckham?" She replied: "I can do it better than him."

Later, at Robsack Wood Primary School, he praised community efforts to revitalise the estate and hailed the area as an example other communities should follow.

Mr Prescott said: "A lot of time and hard work has obviously gone on here.

"I've been most impressed having heard of these plans last night in Ashford to come here to Hastings and find it already happening successfully."

He urged community leaders to continue building the confidence of young people. He said: "If you lose their confidence you won't get it back."

Afterwards, he heard about Hastings and Bexhill's striking £400 million regeneration plans on a visit to the town centre.