Campaigners are racing against time to save a historic flint wall from demolition.

They have launched a petition to save the landmark feature in Church Road, Hove, before the bulldozers move in to make way for a supermarket.

Outline planning consent has already been given for the demolition of the wall near the gasworks.

Tesco is putting forward detailed plans to Brighton and Hove City Council for the store.

Paul Elgood, the council's Liberal Democrat group leader, said: "We strongly object to the loss of the historic flint wall.

"If this goes through, it is the loss of a landmark Hove feature.

"The wall helps to define the western end of Church Road and should have been preserved as part of the development."

Councillor Mark Barnard has leafleted residents asking them to sign the petition.

He said: "They must act quickly as we only have a week to win this."

Council planning officer Ian Coomber said: "The loss of flint walls throughout the site and the demolition of existing buildings were agreed as part of the outline planning permission."

He is recommending the council's planning committee approves details of the scheme next Wednesday.

Mr Coomber said that, wherever possible, Tesco would use flint from the existing walls to create new walls on the boundaries of the site.

Selma Montford, secretary of the Brighton Society, said the application was for a huge glass shed.

She complained it was sad outline permission allowed the demolition of the wall, a flint villa and a Thirties showroom.

She said: "Had these been retained the scheme could have been designed to fit in with the surrounding townscape."