Residents have reacted furiously after a council announced it wanted to build a block of flats on a green.

Residents say the land is well used as a recreation space and they have handed in a 100-name signature petition to Adur District Council, the landowner.

Although formal plans have yet to be submitted for the patch of land in Williams Road, Shoreham, the council has been working with Worthing Homes housing association in consulting with residents over the proposals.

In a statement to the council the residents said: "It is a well utilised and valuable piece of green space in what is already a built up urban area. Younger children play their ball games there as they have been intimidated off the 'official' football pitch in the play park by teenagers.

"In an era when the Government are trying to encourage children to take more exercise, in order to tackle child obesity, why take away their play area? It is evident that at least two generations of children have been happily using this green and we would like to keep it so for our children growing up here now."

The opposition to the scheme has caused the council to have a rethink over its policy to identify land it owns that could be developed for homes.

Councillors sitting on the housing and central services committee on Tuesday were set to make a decision on whether or not to pursue the scheme and whether or not the current policy should be abandoned due to local opposition.

Instead they agreed to carry out a site visit and arrange to meet residents to discuss their concerns.

Committee chairwoman Julie Searle, said: "The council's development and scrutiny committee had carried out an urban renewal survey of private and council-owned land.

"They came forward with about four areas of land for possible housing."

These were Williams Road and Stoney Lane, in Shoreham, and Prince Charles Close and Overhill, in Southwick.

Coun Searle added: "We went out to consultation to residents with these sites and what they think about the schemes.

"They've come back and said no thank you and we have to see if they are feasible pieces of land or go back to the development and scrutiny to find some brownfield sites."

Committee member Coun Brian Boggis proposed the site visit and meeting.

He said: "We are being pressed by the Government to find new sites for the building of new homes.

"On paper it appears to be a reasonable proposal but it's fairly obvious it has caused a lot of controversy among the residents.

"We'll have a meeting with the residents to best judge the way forward."

Do you think pieces of 'spare' land should be left alone or are they vital in solving the housing crisis? Have your say below.