Liberal Democrats are fighting to preserve the boundaries of a town.

Brighton and Hove Council is proposing to change the boundaries of wards across the two towns.

One of the alterations is getting rid of the Brunswick ward in Hove. It includes Brunswick Town which is one of the oldest areas of Hove.

Liberal Democrat councillors Paul Elgood, David Watkins and Dawn Davidson have launched a petition against the division of Brunswick among three other wards.

A leaflet is also being sent to every home in the ward saying it should remain intact.

Coun Elgood said: "A division right down the centre of the existing ward will be extremely harmful to the local community.

"What we will have is the same councillors representing the Old Steine as Brunswick Square - it is madness.

"At the same time there will be different councillors for Palmeira Square and Brunswick Square.

"So much work has been undertaken by so many to build a Brunswick community spirit and this has been helped by having one set of councillors of whatever political colour.

"Now all this work is under threat just because of ill-thought out proposals by the council."

Lib Dems are putting their own separate proposals to the Local Government Commission which will make the final decision over wards.

The changes, which have been approved by the policy and resources committee, are needed to even out the number of constituents in each ward.

If approved they will reduce the number of councillors in Brighton and Hove from 78 to 64 and the number of wards from 26 to 22.

Wherever possible existing communities are being kept intact under the council proposals, which generally divide the towns between coastal, urban and suburban wards.

Tories are also putting their own set of proposals to the commission.