Campaigners are galvanising support to stop Peacehaven becoming "Poohaven" if a sewage works is built on farmland.

Residents angry that Southern Water has chosen Lower Hoddern Farm for a multi-million pound sewage works will hold a protest meeting on Friday.

Posters featuring an artist's impression of the development with the words "Say No" are already appearing.

There is shock and anger that the town may be forced to have a sewage treatment works to treat all the waste water generated by Brighton and Hove.

Councillors and residents say the city should treat its own waste.

John Livings, Peacehaven's East Sussex county councillor and leader of the town council, said: "There is a lot of anger that Southern Water has chosen a site on farmland, with access through an Area of Outstanding Beauty, as its preferred site for the treatment works.

"We are a fairly sleepy town but when something like this happens we become a vociferous community that successfully fights. I believe that if we put up a fight, Southern Water will be forced to look elsewhere.

"Residents don't like the fact this huge plant is being built because Brighton and Hove does not want it in their back yard. It is no coincidence that the site being considered at Brighton Marina suddenly became the perfect site for an ice rink.

"If this project goes ahead, people living nearby will have to get used to being on a building site for the next ten years."

Southern Water has to find a site for a new modern sewage treatment works between Newhaven and Shoreham to treat the discharges into the English Channel at a higher level to meet tough European regulations.

It says that out of eight shortlisted sites, Lower Hoddern Farm, immediately north of Peacehaven Football Club at the end of Piddinghoe Avenue, is the most suitable because the land is available, it can be landscaped and it is close to the sewage network.

Southern Water is expected to submit a planning application to East Sussex County Council next summer.

Three years ago, residents fought a successful battle to stop Southern Water building a treatment works on the beach at Telscombe Cliffs to expand its existing sewage treatment works at Portobello.

The Campaign for Residents Against Portobello (CRAP) was formed to challenge the project.

Group spokeswoman Jean Talbot said: "We still exist but we are not getting involved until we have seen the detailed plans. At the moment it is Peacehaven's fight but we are watching the situation carefully."

The protest meeting is in the main hall of the Meridian Centre at 8pm.