Bowls players are furious they could lose a prized green and only learnt about the plans when they read The Argus.

The green in Hove is played regularly by club bowlers and members of the public and is used for an annual summer tournament.

However, last week, Brighton and Hove City Council announced it intended to close Green E on Kingsway, Hove, to save money.

Officers said closing the green and another at Preston Park would save £15,000 a year.

Angry bowlers have vowed to fight the plans.

Peter Baker, honorary secretary of Hove and Kingsway Bowling Club, said: "We had no warning at all.

"I think it is absolutely dreadful. We should have had some sort of consultation or at least been informed.

"It is the sort of thing you might expect in the old Eastern Bloc countries but not this one.

"We give quite a substantial amount of money to the Mayor of Brighton and Hove's charity each year. This is not a very nice way to repay us."

Joan Rogers, honorary secretary of Kingsway Ladies, said: "I am horrified. We have not been informed at all.

"I have only just persuaded the Sussex County Women's Bowling Association to play at Kingsway. They stopped playing here two years ago.

"We need all five greens to keep people playing in the city and stop them going to Worthing or Eastbourne. We also need five greens for county competitions.

"We always hear how hard-up the council is but to close a facility which is not doing anyone any harm cannot save that much. £15,000 is nothing.

"The thing that concerns me is high-handed decisions with no consultation. Nobody asked the communities."

A council spokesman said: "Both of these bowling greens were very rarely used and each costs about £7,000 a year to maintain.

"It is well known that the council is having to tighten its belt at the moment so this is money we cannot afford to waste.

"The Hove green is used one week a year for the Hove Open competition.

"We have spoken to the organisers who told us they will manage without it."

Tournament secretary Geoff Clack confirmed he was confident the competition could still be held.

The green's future rests with the council's policy and resources committee.