Old soldiers have condemned a council for declining to carve the name of a Falklands hero on a war memorial.

On Monday The Argus reported how the family of paratrooper Steve Prior wanted his name inscribed on the memorial in Old Steine, Brighton, to mark the 25th anniversary of the conflict.

But they had been rebuffed by the former Brighton Council in the 1980s and had no success with its successor, Brighton and Hove City Council, today.

Council leader Brian Oxley said he was sympathetic but it was unlikely the council would be allowed to add Steve's name.

Mike Paine, county field officer for Sussex Royal British Legion, said: "He made the supreme sacrifice but his name doesn't liveth for ever more. We are being denied the opportunity to remember him and I think the council ought to be ashamed of itself."

Tony Sullivan, chairman of Brighton RBL, said: "He gave his all. I don't see any reason why his name shouldn't be put on the memorial."

He pledged to raise the issue at yesterday's branch meeting.

Steve, 29, was killed in action while trying to rescue a wounded comrade at the Battle of Goose Green on May 28, 1982.

Steve and a fellow corporal, Dave Abols, exposed themselves to Argentine fire to save a paratrooper who had been shot in the stomach.

His brother Bob, 66, of The Avenue, Brighton, told The Argus: "We have tried to get him on the memorial but, sadly, all the people on the council just shrugged their shoulders and wouldn't take responsibility.

"I don't know how many people we wrote to. I wrote to just about every department that could have been involved but was passed from one to another.

"I think politics may have come into it. As it is the 25th anniversary, perhaps the council could have a rethink. I believe he was the only Brighton boy killed in action."

The name of another Sussex paratrooper, medic Chris Lovett, who was killed in the Falklands on June 12, 1982, has been inscribed on Worthing war memorial in Chapel Road.

Coun Oxley said: "I shall be asking officers to contact the Royal British Legion to see if it wishes to create a memorial to the conflict and to explore possible locations in the city if it does.

"As the Old Steine war memorial is a listed building, it is very unlikely we would be allowed to alter it to include his brother's name."

Bob said he had received a lot of feedback from The Argus story, with everybody agreeing that Steve's name should be included.

He said: "He may be buried at Aldershot but he is a local lad. It used to be automatic in the old days but traditions are changing."

Do you think Mr Prior's name should be added? Leave your comments and messages of support for his family below.