Language schools are joining forces to fight a proposed clampdown on student visas they believe could cripple the industry.

The Government is proposing to raise the minimum level of courses which foreign students can take due to concerns that some are using such courses to work illegally in the UK.

There is also a plan to increase the standard of English a student must have from A2, an elementary qualification, to intermediate level B1, before they are allowed to enter the UK.

This could have huge implications for Brighton and Hove because the city’s network of more than 40 language schools attracts more than 100,000 people each year, bringing an estimated £115 million into the economy last year.

English UK, the national association of 435 accredited English language centres, has vowed to fight the plans and has launched an online petition as well as lobbying the UK Borders Agency.

It estimates that the economic impact on UK finances would be about £2 billion a year if the visa restrictions come into force.

Adela Johnston, of the Interactive English Language School in Church Road, Hove, has up to 60 students from all across the world at the school at any one time. She estimates that half could be lost if restrictions on short courses come into force.

She said: “I don’t think the Government realises how much of an impact this could have on our industry.”

Ms Johnston added that new rules which came into force earlier this year to deal with potential immigrants and bogus language schools were adequate.

She said: “All schools now have to be registered with the Home Office so hopefully that will get rid of most of the bogus ones.”

Phil Hopkins, principal of the English Language Centre in Brighton, said increasing the standard of English needed could bar many students coming from the Middle East.

He said: “We get a few people from Saudi Arabia and the UAE who tend to have lower levels of English. But they are sponsored by governments and screened before they leave the country so they are zero risk.

“We understand the need for immigration controls but this will kill the industry for what is probably only a problem with 1% of students.”

To sign the petition against the Government’s plans, visit http://petitions.number10. gov.uk/PBSReview.