Campaigners have conceded defeat in their battle against the "Poohaven" sewage plant.

Protest group PROUD (Peacehaven Residents Opposed to Urban Development) today said they would not submit any further legal challenges against Southern Water's plans for a treatment works at Lower Hoddern Farm, Peacehaven.

The campaigners, who have staved off the plans for more than five years, said they still felt they had grounds to appeal a High Court judge's decision against them last week but could not afford the costs if they failed.

John Hodgson, who has led the campaign, said: "Our legal team advised us there were no more sources of legal aid available to us so if we lost we would face the costs.

"Campaigners fighting the Newhaven incinerator plan got to the same stage and lost an appeal, leaving them with a bill for £38,000.

"Even though we thought we had a good case we could not afford to take that kind of risk."

Mr Hodgson said PROUD would now turn its efforts to carefully monitoring everything Southern Water did in the construction and operation of the plant, which will treat sewage from Brighton and Hove and a large area of East Sussex.

The campaign had opposed the scheme because residents believed the plant would spoil a beauty spot and be built too close to housing, causing problems with odours.

Mr Hodgson said: "This is not the end of PROUD. What we'll have to do now is become a monitoring watchdog to make sure the conditions are rigorously adhered to."

The group will stage a public meeting at the Meridian Centre, in Meridian Way, Peacehaven, on Friday, May 15, at 7.30pm, to consider the way forward.

Southern Water said it was not likely to start construction work immediately, as was previously reported.

A spokeswoman said building was expected to begin by the end of the year. Technical planning has now begun.

She said: "We note the decision and remain committed to working with the local community on this project and bringing unprecedented environmental improvements to this important stretch of the south coast.

“Our priority is to uphold our commitment to the community to ensure there is as little disruption as possible.”

Eileen Russell, leader of Peacehaven Town Council, said the whole town was disappointed with the result of the court battle.

She said: "We will now be looking as a council for the maximum benefit for the town. The development will require a contribution to local amenities and we want to see that used to improve sports facilities for the community and Peacehaven Community School."