Surfers have accused developers of using dirty tricks to try to get permission to build on a beach.

A row has broken out over statements made by a firm hoping to construct a four-storey block on top of 186 concrete piles driven into the seabed and beach along the eastern edge of Brighton Marina.

Surfer Mat Hammond, 39, from Peacehaven, spokesman for the Save the Wave group, which has more than 1,000 members opposing the scheme, said: "What they have said has been misleading at best. At worst they have just told outright lies about it. It's hard not to see it as them using dirty tricks."

When the proposals were initially revealed in November they provoked outrage among surfers.

The area alongside the marina wall, known colloquially as Custard Point, is one of the best surf spots in the South East and is surfed regularly by dozens.

Opponents said the concrete piles would affect the waves and create dangerous obstacles for surfers in the water.

The latest row centres over claims by Brunswick Developments, the firm behind the plans, that their scheme had been positively received by the British Surfing Association, the sport's national body.

The company said the response was due to its commitment to providing facilities in the development for surfers.

However the BSA yesterday told The Argus it had never given any support to the proposals and was in fact opposing them.

Andy Sturt, from the BSA, said the firm had made contact in an email but no response had ever been sent.

He said: "What they said was rather perplexing. We have never supported this project. Our role is to look after the rights of surfers and their access to beaches. We would oppose anything that impedes on that."

Brunswick Developments director Andrew Goodall said he believed there had been some confusion over the BSAs position following an initial telephone conversation with one of his colleagues, who was unavailable in New Zealand yesterday.

Mr Goodall said: "There has never been any intention on our behalf to mislead anyone. The application will stand or fall on its own merits."

He admitted the proposals would take away some of the existing surfing area but said consultations with wave experts indicated there would be no detrimental effect to the break.

He said: "We are fully in support of the surfers. They are part of the marina and we want them to remain there. We've done everything we can to ensure the surfing there can continue."

His firm's plans are for a block with 8,000sq m of office space, nine luxury flats and two cafes.

They are expected to go before a Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee in February.

The Environment Agency yesterday said it would also be opposing the development on the basis of the impact on biodiversity and possible flood risk.