A community centre has received protection after a show of support by councillors.

St Mary’s Social Centre in Christie Road, Lewes, is one of 49 sites Lewes District Council is considering passing to a private partner for potential development.

It has led to fears the site could be sold and the centre forced to close or relocate.

At the full council meeting, a majority of councillors passed a motion calling for a guarantee that the centre had to be safeguarded in any contract with a developer, once the regeneration partner is confirmed.

Liberal Democrat group leader Chris Bowers said: “It's not quite the full security that all the centre’s users were looking for, but it’s as good as it gets at this stage.”