Residents were invited to a drop-in consultation about the possibility of a new school using a public park as its playing field.

The new 900-pupil Bohunt Education Trust academy in Broadwater, Worthing, was given the green-light because of a need for more school places in the town. It will open on the old Northbrook College site in September 2015.

But residents are concerned about the academy looking to use the popular Manor Sports Ground as its playing field. The Worthing Borough Council-owned field has been available for public use since 1902 and is currently home to cricket and hockey matches, events and festivals.

At the drop-in at Broadwater C of E school in Worthing on Tuesday evening, Bohunt and West Sussex County Council presented locals with three options for 'shared use' of the Manor Sports Ground.

Campaigner Jane Coburn, of the Manor Action Group, said: “We spoke with most of the attendees and held our own exit poll. Over 90% of those that attended chose the option for continued and unrestricted open shared access.

“The general mood was one of anger at the way this whole issue has been handled. The community feels badly let down by their local councillors who seem to be happy to sit on the fence and definitely get the feeling that they are being bulldozed into decisions in order to keep Bohunt and WSCC happy.”