A tourism campaigner has warned that the 100,000 population of Worthing is insufficient to maintain the economic viability of the town.

Sue Murray, outgoing chairman of Worthing Hospitality Association, said the resort needed a steady influx of visitors to bring much-needed cash.

Mrs Murray helped spearhead a campaign to improve the seafront, which resulted in cordyline trees being planted, decorative lighting improved and information boards installed.

She recalled that three years ago, hoteliers and guest house owners in the town were up in arms when the borough council "no longer recognised the value of tourism to the economy".

But Mrs Murray worked very hard with Councillor Tim Dice and The Argus/The Sentinel reporter Paul Holden to upgrade facilities.

She understood the budgetary restrictions faced by the borough council, which axed spending on the seafront this year, but hoped the vision of revitalising the promenade would one day be realised.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the association, held at the Berkeley Hotel in Marine Parade, Mrs Murray said many people often knocked Worthing but "we have a wonderful town and we want to make it a town to be proud of."

She added: "People have thought I have been obsessed by it and I have.

"I have learnt one hell of a lot over the past three years. I wish you all the best for the future."

Mrs Murray was presented with two framed paintings of Worthing, featuring fishing boats near the Lido, and the west side of Montague Place.

Alan Gunn, who made one of the presentations, said: "On behalf of the association, thank you very much for what you have done. I know you have done a terrific amount of work."

Councillor Chris Sargent, chairman of economic development on the council, was unable to attend the meeting but sent the following statement:

"Although I have not known Sue Murray for very long, it soon became very clear to me she is very knowledgeable and very expert on all matters affecting tourism, in Worthing in particular, and her absence from the scene will be a great loss to Worthing and the tourism industry."

Diane Guest, of the Brunswick pub, Thorn Road, was appointed chairman of the association, which has almost 70 members.

Long-serving treasurer John Carver stepped down while Henry Hoskins received a certificate marking 50 years' membership.

Council leader Sheila Player said the council was committed to tourism as a vital and integral part of the economy.

She said Worthing needed to be a clean and safe environment, believing this was the key to attracting new business and visitors.

She said: "We have done much work on cleaning the streets. Generally speaking the town is cleaner but it still needs more work.

"We have spent a great deal of money on graffiti removal."

Coun Player also spoke of plans for a new swimming pool to replace the Aquarena. She said £2 million had already been set aside for the complex, which would be sited in the east of the town.

She is expecting a planning application for the Teville Gate shopping precinct shortly but admitted hopes of a cinema complex had been dashed, with operators stating the town's population was too small to sustain a multiplex.

There was concern from the floor that Worthing Motor Show, held every July at Steyne Gardens, had not received a rent reduction from the council.

But Coun Player replied: "One of the ways of trying to keep the council tax low is that you have to generate income where you know the market can withstand it."