Residents have vowed to fight on after they failed to stop plans for dozens of high-rise apartments in their waterfront neighbourhood.

People living at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne fear the £100 million marine development will be turned into a concrete jungle by the introduction of 24 town houses and 54 apartments in four, five and six-storey blocks.

They had urged councillors to refuse permission for the proposal, protesting that the area needed bars, cafes and restaurants - not more homes.

Last night their campaign failed as members of the Eastbourne Borough Council planning and licensing committee gave David Wilson Homes the green light to start building.

The decision is the second blow for the residents in recent days.

Last week they learned DIY giant B&Q was appealing against a council decision to refuse permission for a large superstore at the marina.

The latest "Victorian dockside" housing development will front the Inner and North Harbours. Parking will be provided, with 193 spaces for residents and 120 for berth holders.

Councillors accepted their officers' recommendation to approve the plans, which they were told would "create an attractive and interesting" environment.

But members of the Sovereign Harbour Residents Association reacted with disappointment.

They said the plans effectively cut the harbour in half and failed to promote it to visitors.

A spokeswoman said: "We will fight this because it's the wrong sort of development for this small piece of land.

"Nobody seems to take any notice of the people actually living there. Nobody seems bothered about what our feelings are.

"It will be more difficult to fight this now but we won't just sit back."

Residents thought they had succeeded in stopping B&Q when councillors ignored officers' recommendations and unanimously threw out the proposal in May.

But B&Q is now calling for a public inquiry, claiming the reasons councillors gave for refusing permission will not stand up to scrutiny.