A pub regular has vowed to boycott his local watering hole if his favourite Sussex bitter is banned.

Swiss-born Jrg Schlup has been drinking Harvey's for 35 years.

But since Greene King Pub Partners took over the King's Head in North Chailey, near Lewes, about four years ago they have been trying to introduce their own beers and phase out Harvey's.

The pub used to be run by Beards-of-Sussex. More than 130 regulars, including Lewes MP Norman Baker, have signed a petition Mr Schlup, 60, began to persuade Greene bosses to keep the bitter.

Mr Schlup, of Lindfield Farm, North Chailey, said: "A lot of people feel like me but I was the one given the task of collecting signatures.

"You ask any bitter drinker - Harvey's is such a distinctive brew. It is better than most bitters and it has got a very special bite.

Mr Schlup, who runs his own business supplying chemicals to the automotive industry after care industry, said he would either have to change what he drank or change pubs.

He said: "I have been drinking it since 1967. I know everyone in the pub and everyone knows me. I don't want to go to another pub.

"But Greene has its own beer and it wants to use it. I would probably still go into the Kings Head from time to time but it would only be occasionally to have a gin and tonic or a whisky."

Mr Baker said: "People in the area feel very strongly about Harvey's Brewery and they want their local pub to serve Harvey's beer.

"They do not need management from far away forcing a change. If the bitter is no longer available then the managers will suffer from a loss of trade."

Clive Pettitt, marketing director at Greene King, said: "Since the acquisition of Beards-of-Sussex, some four years ago, Harvey's bitter has continued to be available to ex-Beards licensees.

"At the time, Greene King could have withdrawn the Harvey's brand immediately but decided to retain and review it on a regular basis.

"During the past four years, we have seen the sales of Harvey's continually decline.

"The majority of ex-Beards outlets no longer sell Harvey's with no detrimental impact on the businesses, in fact, most of the outlets are now trading at a higher level.

"Greene King will continue to review the offer of Harvey's bitter on an individual basis through ongoing business reviews with the licensees."