Sussex has lost another amateur boxing club after Southwick amalgamated with Hove's Savages.

It is only three years since Southwick joined forces with Lancing and recently Westhill took in 1066, another Hastings' based club.

Southwick trainer Mark Wray said: "Amateur boxing in the county has been struggling and it is a shame to lose yet another club, but it is nice to have one big club that can help develop talented boxers. Now there are three of us running one club.

"I feel that things are better than last year in Sussex generally.

"It's not been easy. At Southwick it was mostly Lee Jenman's success in reaching the ABA Schoolboy finals and making the Young England squad that helped keep the interest going and the club afloat last year.

"But Paul Ingle being hospitalised and the fact that a lot of people around our way are crazy about the Albion doesn't help. Also, it is hard to find trainers and new boys.

"But somehow this year things are thriving a bit more. It would improve even more if we could find more people to run nursery set-ups for the 9-11 year-olds."

Savages' Keith Funnell believes amalgamation is a good idea as they will move into Southwick's Shoreham gym.

He said: "There were 15 clubs in Brighton and Hove area in 1982, now there are ten or 11 in the whole county.

"It will be good for the sport. They have a lot of good juniors and we have a lot of good seniors. We can all share the load and our contacts for the benefit of the boxers.

"I found running Savages with help from my partner, Helen Neeley, just too much. They will keep the gym we used open for those who want to keep fit"