A NOTICE put up by anti-Falmer Stadium protestors has been ripped down, smashed in two and thrown in the village churchyard.

Falmer Parish Council chairman Eric Huxham was furious when he heard that the sign declaring No Stadium Here had been destroyed.

The sign was put up by residents who are against plans to build a stadium for the community, including the Albion, at Falmer.

But within 24 hours of the 4ft-square plywood sign being attached to a fence on the Woodingdean Road, it had been smashed in two by vandals.

Mr Huxham, 55, said: "I thought we could protest in our own little way but obviously we are not allowed to.

"It's a different ball game when this sort of thing starts happening."

Mr Huxham believes there is no question that the damage has been caused by football fans who are in favour of a new stadium at Falmer.

Adrian Newnham, of the Falmer Stadium Campaign, said: "I'm shocked and surprised that football supporters are being accused of this. There is no evidence to support the accusation."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.