Thousands of people have signed a petition against proposals to sell off a town swimming pool for housing.

Worthing Borough Council is considering selling the crumbling Aquarena site and adjacent paddling pool in Brighton Road to developers.

It is proposed the money from the sale be used to redevelop Worthing Leisure Centre in Shaftesbury Road, incorporating a new athletics track and swimming pool.

More than 2,500 residents have signed a petition opposing the scheme, saying the Aquarena site should continue to be used as a leisure venue.

Campaigners say the site is in a perfect location on the seafront and if there is to be any redevelopment then the Aquarena should be replaced with a new pool on the same site and the popular paddling pool left where it is.

Worthing borough councillor Maurice Tucker said he had been inundated with hundreds of letters from residents since the proposals were unveiled earlier this year.

He said: "The response to this has been unprecedented. People feel really strongly about the issue and are determined to fight any sale all the way.

"People have been coming up to me saying they are horrified that the scheme is even being considered.

"The Aquarena is on the seafront and is well used by hundreds of people each month.

"What is the point of redeveloping a leisure centre so far away in Durrington, which is difficult to get to, when we already have a perfect location in the natural tourism centre of Worthing?

"Until it is confirmed in writing that the council will look at the possibility of redeveloping the Aquarena site as a leisure venue, we will keep the pressure on."

The petition is expected to be presented to a council leisure committee in September when proposals for the Aquarena and Worthing Leisure Centre are considered.