Hockey players hoping to build an eco-friendly sports pavilion have met campaigners fighting the plans.

Members of Brighton and Hove Hockey Club told residents who live near the proposed site - on land next to Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, in Dyke Road, Hove - the pavilion would benefit the community.

The building would be set into sloping land and the roof would be covered in grass to act as a viewing platform for the two floodlit pitches included in the plans, submitted by the club and Cardinal Newman School in The Upper Drive, Hove.

More than 50 people attended Wednesday's meeting. Club member Cameron Heath said: "It was really useful to hear what people had to say. There are things we can take from it to help us improve the plans."

Residents fear the new pitches would prevent schools using the land as regularly as they currently do. They also said the pavilion would generate noise and only be open to club members and the pitches would attract extra traffic.

Mr Heath said they wanted to ensure other schools and the rest of the community would have access to the facilities.

Katherine Ladd, of Cissbury Road, Hove, said: "It is destroying one of the only green spaces left in the city. We feel the council has already made its decision but at least everyone has had a chance to say how they feel."