Tourists planning to spend time and money in Worthing may go elsewhere if plans to close a seafront Tourist Information Centre are approved.

The centre opens during the summer months and provides a wide range of details about hotels, attractions and entertainment.

Worthing Borough Council is preparing its next financial budget and closing the information centre could help balance the books.

But it is feared the move will leave tourists hunting for the town's other information centre in Chapel Road.

Brian Lynn, former Conservative leader, said the closure of the Marine Parade centre should only happen when an alternative site was up and running.

He said: "It would be totally impractical to close it.

"During the summer we have a lot of visitors around and we need an information centre in the seafront area. It's essential.

"Visitors want to know where to go for accommodation and other things. It's no good having it tucked away in Chapel Road.

"It would be a big mistake because it provides an important service to the holiday makers.

"It should be kept by the pier until another site is ready, so there is a smooth transition.

"Once it is closed down, they may decide they do not want to reopen it and we'll have no centre on the seafront.

"People go in there all the time to find out what's on in the theatres, and where to find car parks and hotels."

Worthing's head of planning Mike Bleakley said closing the centre was only an option and the matter would be closely examined before any decision was made.

He said: "If the council close it, it would be a saving and the council has got to look hard at its budget to make the books balance.

"If we do close it, we would re-let it for some other seafront-related facility.

"It is not proposed to demolish the centre but we are considering relocating it.

"If the centre is closed, there could be a short period without one on the seafront. We would have to look at this."

Council leader Sheila Player said: "No decisions have been made either way."