Campaigners today vowed to continue their battle to save Eastbourne's Old Town Library after councillors rejected a rescue deal.

More than 100 members of the library's Friends group held a demonstration urging councillors to step in and save the library, which is having its funding cut by East Sussex County Council.

They held the protest outside a meeting of Eastbourne Borough Council last night.

Councillor Maurice Skilton asked his colleagues to set aside £26,000 for the library but they rejected the plan by a majority of two.

Coun Skilton said after the meeting: "The campaign will keep going. We are still going to try and raise funds.

"I was very, very sad to see Eastbourne Borough Council and the county council turn their backs on us. I never dreamed the council would go against the wishes of the residents like that."

County council chairman Michael Tunwell, who also sits on Eastbourne Council, said: "The Old Town library will close as part of a strategy to provide better library services across the whole of the county."

Tory councillor Bob Lacey blamed the Lib Dems for running down the library when they held power.

He said: "I do regret the closure of the library but it is beyond our power."

The library is to have its funding withdrawn by East Sussex County Council in April.

Scott Buchanan, who runs Scott's Newsagent in Victoria Drive, said the library was a focal point for the community.

He said: "We had a petition in here to stop it closing. I didn't realise until now how many people used it.

"The support we have had has been tremendous. People go into the library to get their books and then use the shops here."