Music lovers were today due to stage a demonstration to save the Rox seafront festival in Bognor.

Organisers of the festival abandoned their plans for the August event following a row with traders.

Talks are still taking place with landowners to find a new venue on the fringe of the town.

The festival has been at the centre of controversy after attracting an estimated 60,000 people last summer.

Seafront traders claimed the festival had grown too large and was costing them money in lost business.

The owner of the pier threatened to abandon the annual Bognor Birdman Rally unless a stage was moved.

Music fans angry at the opposition to Rox were being asked to gather on the seafront for a protest at 5pm today.

A spokesman for the Rox committee said: "We still hope that Rox will take place and we are in talks with a local landowner.

"We hope to be able to make an announcement about an alternative venue early next week."

Today the independent organisers of the protest could not be contacted for comment but a recorded message for callers said: "Thank you for supporting our demonstration. We look forward to seeing you."