Eight giant eggs at the centre of a planning row will be taken down by September 20, cricket chiefs have promised.

The 14ft-high eggs, branded an eyesore by residents living near Sussex County Cricket Club's base in Hove, will be removed within a week of the end of the season.

The club has also withdrawn a retrospective planning application for the advertising symbols due to be heard on July 19.

It was made after the plastic eggs went up around the ground two years ago without planning permission.

Now the club has promised Brighton and Hove Council any future advertising symbols will be much more low key.

It also says any future plans for advertising on the club's floodlight pylons will be submitted to the council first.

Maggie Brian, the council's development control manager, told objectors: "The club has advised the council that it has decided to withdraw its application.

"It has undertaken to remove the eggs by September 20, which I understand is approximately one week after the final game."

The move follows a decision by Hailsham-based egg producers Stonegate to end their sponsorship deal with the club.

Residents had campaigned against the eggs, saying they impacted on the appearance of a conservation area.

Animal rights protestors objected to the eggs saying they represented a company which produced eggs from battery-farmed chickens.

Spokeswoman Valerie Paynter said: "We want to have those eggs taken down as quickly as possible, preferably before the four-day game against Nottinghamshire on July 19.

"We also plan to demonstrate and leaflet the floodlit Under-19s match against Sri Lanka on July 31.

"If the eggs are not taken down we will be back again for the floodlit game against Lancashire on August 7."