Campaigners are fighting to stop a new swimming pool being built on a historic public garden.

Worthing Borough Council has identified Denton Gardens, off Brighton Road, as one of two possible seafront sites for a new Aquarena in the town.

But residents, backed by the Worthing Society conservation group, have condemned plans to sacrifice the open space.

Leading protester Nikki Sheeran, of Warwick Road, Worthing, said: "This would be an absolute tragedy and to quote one of the many people who are horrified at the prospect of this ludicrous decision going ahead, it is an act of civic vandalism.

"Denton Gardens was gifted to the Borough of Worthing in 1922 by Alderman Denton for leisure use.

"It is adjacent to a conservation area, and surrounded by Grade II listed buildings. It is one of the few town centre open green spaces that families can enjoy all year round for a game of football or a picnic.

"On a sunny February day we did a survey and near enough 200 people either walked through, walked their dogs or sat in the sunshine.

"As a garden it is quite unique to the town centre. Steyne Gardens has a main road running round it, and Beach House Park is shut at dusk. It has been described as a lung for the town centre.

"We see this rather as a test case - if this public land can be built on, then what hope for all other pockets of green space in and around Worthing?"

A spokesman for the Worthing Society said its members would definitely be opposed to any proposal to build on Denton Gardens which had, for many years, provided residents with an outdoor haven for relaxation and recreation close to the town centre.

He said: "Denton Gardens is an invaluable civic amenity and its sensitive position adjacent to a conservation area and listed buildings makes any proposal to build a pool on that site wholly unjustifiable and would meet with strong opposition from the people of Worthing."

The council is also looking at building the pool next to the existing Aquarena, but this would mean relocating the outdoor paddling pool possibly nearer or even in Denton Gardens.

Councillor Keith Mercer, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, hoped a decision would be reached by the summer.

He said it was a cross-party decision to include Denton Gardens in the options but accepted there was a preference among councillors to build next to the Aquarena.

Coun Mercer added: "Denton Gardens is a green space, but I think we have an enormous number of green spaces. It terms of percentage loss it's not all that great.

"All our green spaces are very sensitive. My concern, and I am sure all councillors share the same concern, is that the Denton Gardens site is adjacent to a conservation area."