Police are to appeal against the decision to throw out plans for a custody centre which outraged parents.

Opponents of the scheme, near Highfield County Junior School, Eastbourne, have vowed not to relent in their campaign against it.

Sussex Police want to build a centre with 18 cells and three juvenile detention rooms near Dallington Road, Hampden Park.

But Eastbourne Borough Council came down in favour of opponents at a meeting last week, saying the site was inappropriate.

Its planning and licensing committee was handed a petition with more than 1,500 names listing the worries of parents and residents.

Parents said they were concerned about suspects being released into their community and residents feared an increase in household and vehicle insurance.

But John Cartwright, head of facilities at Sussex Police, said the fears about the centre were without foundation.

A consortium, including Sussex Police, is preparing to lodge an appeal against the committee's decision.

Mr Cartwright said: "We have six custody centres in Sussex, some near schools, and as far as I am aware there are absolutely no problems.

"What we all need to be aware of is that Sussex needs good policing if we are all to live in harmony and that means these facilities are needed."

Yet opponents said they would not back down until the proposals were dead and buried.

Parent Sam Kiely, 27, said: "It looks as if we've got another battle on our hands. Already there has been a strong level of opposition to the proposal.

"There have been no guarantees to us that they are going to take people to where they had been picked up.

"We have been told that they will supply transport to them but if they refuse it they are free to go wherever."