The British Red Cross is going ahead with a sponsored abseil challenge down the cliffs at Peacehaven on Sunday, despite concerns such events may damage the chalk face.

More than 100 people will abseil down the 100ft cliffs under the watchful eyes of experts.

Peacehaven Town Council is angry so many permits are being issued by Lewes District Council, the senior authority, for such charity abseils.

Leader of the council Tony Howard said he had witnessed large chunks of chalk falling from the cliffs as abseilers descended.

Town councillors say other authorities do not not allow groups to abseil down their cliffs and are calling for Lewes to stop issuing so many permits. Lewes is considering the request.

But the Red Cross hopes all 120 places for its abseil challenge will be taken up by Sunday.

The event is free to anyone who has raised more than £25 in sponsorship. People who want the last places are being asked to phone the fund-raising office on 01273 229411.

Fund-raiser Caroline Whitehead said: "We are completely unaware of concerns about abseilers damaging the cliffs. This was never mentioned when we applied for permission.

"We are going ahead with Sunday's event and hopefully it will be as successful a fund-raising event as it was last year, which raised over £7,000."

Last year Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner was one of the daredevils who abseiled down the cliffs at the same event. This year some of the participants plan to abseil in fancy dress.

English Nature, the environment watchdog, said it had no evidence cliffs were being damaged by abseilers.