A campaign against a controversial seafront development in Brighton is gathering pace.

Developer St Modwen wants to build two large leisure buildings on either side of the West Pier.

Along with the Brighton West Pier Society, they say the scheme is vital for the restored pier to be viable.

Now opponents are lobbying Brighton and Hove Council, MPs, the West Pier Trust, English Heritage and the National Heritage Lottery Fund in a bid to scupper the scheme.

Some opponents are applying to join the West Pier Trust in the hope of voting for new board members at the next meeting.

Opposition to the scheme is being mounted by the Regency Square Area Society and other groups, including the Brighton Society and the Friends of Brunswick Square and Terraces, in opposing the scheme.

Society chairman Roger Hinton said: "We are not voting against the West Pier. We would love to see it fully restored. But this scheme means that from many places we would not be able to see it.

"There must be other ways that the pier can be saved. If the leadership of the trust believe that to save our pier they must destroy our seafront, they should be replaced by people with a broader vision."

Last month the society produced a montage showing the effect of the development on the seafront.

They claimed the proposed development would obliterate magnificent sea views and that the structure would tower five metres above upper ground level at the seafront, blocking the view of the pier, beach and sea for tourists, passers-by and residents across the road.