Residents are livid that hundreds of flats could be built to fund improvements to a crumbling seafront leisure centre.

People living in St Aubyn's Gardens in Hove, directly opposite the King Alfred Leisure Centre, say they will turn out in force to oppose the plans at a meeting next week.

Council consultants have drawn up proposals showing buildings between four and nine storeys high.

Officials believe that if a completely new centre is to be built - one of three options being considered - 400 flats would be needed to foot the bill.

Pensioner Margaret Fleet said: "It's ridiculous. I am all in favour of improving the sports centre but we don't want the houses."

Mrs Fleet, who has lived in the road for 60 years, described herself as "not the type of person who would normally protest".

But she said the plans made her angry and she would be making her views known to the planning department.

Pensioner Edward Brown said the seafront was part of the attraction for people not only living in Hove but also visitors.

He wondered if there would be any sea view left after building work.

He said: "They won't be happy until they have built right along the seafront. Where will it stop?

"With 400 flats at an average of 1.5 cars per flat, the parking problems will be overwhelming."

Banker Huw Davies, 27, moved to his flat opposite the seafront in December.

He said: "It definitely needs developing but it would mean I would lose my view and more congestion on the road.

"I agree with providing homes for key workers but how many will actually go to key workers? They will have a difficult job persuading me 40 per cent will go to them."

He questioned how hundreds of flats would fit into the space proposed and asked whether the planners' focus was on the sports centre or housing.

He said: "It seems to be all about profit."

Melanie Ayre said she would consider selling up if the "plus points" did not outweigh building the houses.

She said: "It's a difficult one. The leisure centre definitely needs something doing to it and I would use it if it had better facilities. But at what cost?

"For me to remain living here it will have to have real advantages for local residents."

A report on the issue will be presented at the public meeting at Hove Town Hall on Tuesday at 4.30pm.