A COMMUNITY has rallied around a man with a coffee van over fears he could lose his plot when a railway station gets a revamp.

Tony Beck has been running his mobile drinks outlet, From Bean To You, in the northern car park of Portslade Station for the past nine years.

In that time the 54-year-old has fostered friendships with a wide range of people and become a pillar of support.

Among his customers is Julie O'Hara, whose son, Nicholas Clayton, 15, gets a free cup of tea from Mr Beck on his way to London for kidney dialysis treatment.

Mrs O'Hara, 44, of Kingsthorpe Road, Hove, said: "Tony's van means everything because Nick is a kidney patient and he's limited to what fluids he can have a day.

"They have got an amazing relationship. Last year Tony did a charity event for him and bought him a Playstation.

"It means a lot for the whole community. He's always busy and friendly. It would be a shame to lose it. There's nothing else around at that time in the morning. It's not fair on him not having the certainty of what's going to happen."

Others took to Facebook last week after locals discovered that a planning application by Govia Thameslink Railway includes placing a new bike rack in the sole vacant spot where Mr Beck parks his van at the moment.

Mr Beck, who lives nearby in Trafalgar Road, Portslade, said: "It's not just about selling coffee, it's the community and getting involved in people's lives.

"The local community is supporting me on this."

While he has had some conversations with his trading lease company, he said the situation is far from clear.

Local ward councillor Robert Nemeth added: "Both of us Wish Ward councillors, and our colleagues on the other side of the track in Hangleton and Knoll, are firmly backing Tony in getting answers from the railway company.

"He has served commuters well for years and has been a perfect tenant. This should count for a lot."

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink said Mr Beck had not been given notice to vacate, adding that mobile units would not be shown on any plans.

He added that it was "business as usual" for the foreseeable future but that detail about whether provisions would be made for the coffee van had not "been bottomed out at this stage".