The number of people attending tea dances has slumped by half after dancers were forced to leave their traditional venue.

There was uproar among pensioners when Worthing Borough Council decided to move some sessions from the seafront Pavilion Theatre to the inland Assembly Hall.

More than 300 protesters signed a petition protesting at the move.

Coun John Livermore last night told the borough's leisure and cultural services committee attendance at the first Assembly Hall dance was 50 per cent down.

He said: "If it's not at the Pavilion, they don't come."

Coun Livermore urged the council to have a rethink next year but in a statement Coun Maurice Tucker, who is in charge of the town's leisure venues, refused to buckle.

He said: "I note the petition and the strength of feelings that have been generated by this issue. I have taken time to visit sessions and talk extensively to management.

"This summer, Worthing Theatres will be promoting 15 tea dances, of which eight will be at the Assembly Hall and seven at the Pavilion Theatre.

"Wherever possible, sessions have been programmed at the Pavilion as the preferred venue of most users.

"However, due to programme scheduling at the Pavilion, it is not cost-effective or possible on certain dates to put dances on at the Pavilion.

"Moving these dances it has enabled us to arrange extra concerts at the Pavilion and should generate extra income.

"The council has set challenging budget targets for the theatres this financial year and I must allow the officers the freedom to programme accordingly."

But Coun Nick John said the Pavilion was the perfect venue and a good advert for Worthing.