An historic art club is facing closure after being told its rent is to treble.

Sussex County Arts Club, which was established in 1943, has been told by Brighton and Hove Council its annual £3,300 rent will rise to £10,000 in December.

Members will now have to raise the extra cash through business sponsorship or face closure.

The club in Bond Street Cottages, off Bond Street, Brighton, has about 120 members who pay £12 to join and can attend up to six sessions a week.

Member Barbara Loftus, of Brunswick Square, Hove, said: "The club is like a community and is for people of all abilities.

"I think the building could be pulled down because it's in such a prime location."

Frances Doherty, who has been a member for a year, said: "We heard about the increase earlier this summer and there's no way the club can afford it.

"We aren't a business and don't have a lot of clout with the council or know how to deal with rent increases.

"It's typical of what is happening to this area, which is filling up with coffee shops. That's not what Brighton is about."

Eighteen members have written about their experiences in a book which they plan to present to the council in a bid to keep the club open.

Michael Yayler, 61, of Falmer Road, Brighton, wrote: "It is hard to believe that this ancient, quaint and occasionally leaky building can be used in a more satisfactory way.

"It is a genuine and unique facility for those who care for art both from Brighton and outlying areas."

Barry Leigh, of the North Laine Community Association, described the increase as "horrendous".

He added: "It's important to keep resources like this because they make Brighton what it is.

"We are allowing all the civilised bits of the town to get trampled on because of money."

The club began as the Brighton Arts Club in 1834 before William Milford and Laurence Preston established the present club during the Second World War.

Former members include Augustus John, who was commissioned to paint portraits of George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy and Dylan Thomas.

A council spokesman said the price of the club's current lease had not risen since 1991 and Government legislation meant it was obliged to charge the going rate for its buildings.

He added: "It's early days. They haven't asked for a meeting but we expect to talk it through with them so the new set-up can be made to work.

"We feel there's no reason for them to leave and they would almost certainly pay more elsewhere.

"We've also just had to spend £15,000 renovating the outside of the building and tax payers would expect to get some of that back."