Residents were told plans to build on two thirds of Southwick beach would be scrapped if opposition was too great.

At a public meeting last night, Shoreham Port engineer Tony Vaughan urged them "not to go away thinking this is a fait accompli".

The development would include a harbour, a "media village" in Hove, new housing and waterside amenities for Shoreham.

Mr Vaughan said: "This development will need overall public acceptance and the acceptance of the local authority, who depend on the public's support for their existence.

"If it is going to proceed it will be because there is general public acceptance of the need for it."

Mr Vaughan's remarks pleased Tim Loughton, the Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, who chaired the meeting at King's Manor School in Shoreham.

Mr Loughton said: "We all want the harbour to happen, but not at any cost.

"The beach issue is not a big issue but it is a potentially huge stumbling block and I want to find a way round it. It would be an enormous shame if a small thing got in the way of a big thing."

During the meeting, residents vociferously opposed any development on the beach.

Kate Armes, of The Green, Southwick, was applauded when she told developers: "It seems very hard that you want to take away one of the areas of open space.

"We have very few amenities like that. We are pushed into a very small area of open space down here and we have got all the industry as well.

"A lot of young people live in the area and they need a beach where they can enjoy recreation."

Michael Allen, a Shoreham Society member and Shoreham resident, said: "This development is being foisted on us by people who do not have our interests at heart. We must resist at all costs. We do not want our land destroyed."