An animal rights campaigner who works in Sussex has resigned from the RSPCA's leading council, vowing to fight against cutbacks in the region.

The charity, based in Southwater, near Horsham, has announced a series of cash-saving initiatives, including cutting up to 30 jobs, as it battles to overcome financial crisis.

Last year, the group lost £8.8 million and is already £7 million down this year because of stock market losses, which it has blamed on the terrorist attacks of September 11 last year.

The controversial cutbacks were decided during a two-day meeting of the charity's trustees in Loughborough last week, which ended in national council appointee Angela Walder quitting.

Mrs Walder is a society board member in region three, which covers Sussex, Essex and Kent.

At the meeting, the council voted in favour of freezing staff pay and all capital projects for a year in an attempt to save £6 million in 2003.

It has also been confirmed the number of regional Press officers hired by the charity nationwide will be reduced from ten to five. Ten part-time market inspectors will also lose their jobs.

The charity is in discussions with unions about where the axe will fall.

In a move which has angered Mrs Walder, the charity is also considering closing the region three headquarters, based in Maidstone, Kent. She said the council had been discussing merging the regional headquarters.

She said: "I felt it best that those with management and financial experience keep running the council without me.

"It is not what I am good at - I am a grassroots person who works for the good of the animals.

"I am obviously concerned about these cutbacks, although I know they have to be made.

"But I will fight tooth and nail to prevent any serious changes to this region."

The charity employs about 350 people at its national headquarters in Southwater and it is not yet known how they will be affected.

Among the national projects to be postponed is the building of animal centres in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and Merthyr, South Wales. Work to rebuild an animal hospital in Birmingham will not begin until further notice.

The charity's animal shelters in Sussex are run by volunteers and will therefore not be affected by the cost-cutting measures.