Television presenter Zoe Ball is leading the fight to stop dogs from being hounded off Brighton and Hove's beaches.

The 37-year-old claimed the move is unfair and would punish dog owners unfairly.

Zoe, who lives with husband and DJ Norman Cook in Western Esplanade, Hove, told The Argus: "Why should a few bad apples spoil it for the majority of dog owners who abide by the law and respect other people?

"Lots of people live in Brighton purely because of the open spaces available to them that are great for walking dogs.

"It's not fair that should be taken away from them."

The TV personality does not own a dog but said she felt strongly over the issue.

All three of Brighton and Hove's MPs have now said they are against the ban, which is being proposed by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Currently dogs are banned from some beaches in the city between May and September.

But the new plan would ban dogs from the beach, as well as a large number of historic squares, schools and cemeteries.

A final decision on the issue is likely to be made later this month or in early April.

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper joined Celia Barlow and Des Turner in his opposition to the move.

He said: "I think the council has got to think again on this. I'm getting a number of letters from constituents which I'm passing onto the council. It's not very well thought out and I'm totally against it."

Caroline Lucas, the South East MEP and 12 city councillors have also officially registered their opposition so far.

A petition against the proposal has now collected almost 1,000 names in the ten days since it began.

Campaigner Karl Lester, who helped organise Saturday's protest march along the seafront, which attracted more then 100 people, said: "It's amazing how quickly people have made their views known on the issue.

"There is very strong opposition to this, not just from dog owners but from all sorts of people."

Brighton and Hove City Council is currently consulting on the plan.

A city council spokeswoman said: "These are just proposals and the whole idea of the consultation is to get views from residents to help us decide how we should progress."

To find out more about the council's consultation process, visit brighton-hove.gov.uk/animalwelfare Further comments can be sent to Environmental Health and Licensing, Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JP or emailed to ehl.community@brighton-hove.gov.uk Do you back the proposed ban? Tell us what you think below.