One of Sussex's best known dairies has been sold to a national firm sparking fears of job losses.

Coombe Farm Dairies in Saltdean, which was started in 1986 by farmer David Carr and his late father Tom from an award-winning dairy herd, has sold out to Dairy Crest.

The milk bottling and processing plant at the farm in Westfield Avenue North will close with distribution moving to Dairy Crest distribution depots in Eastbourne, Brighton and Worthing.

Daily milk deliveries to the dairy's 9,000 customers from Seaford to Hove will not be hit.

A decision as to when the plant will close will be made in the new year.

A Dairy Crest spokeswoman said: "There are no plans to do anything before Christmas. A decision on whether we keep the bottling and processing plant will be made in the new year."

Householders and businesses which get doorstep milk deliveries were told of the change in letters to customers yesterday.

New managers have moved into the dairy and the offices in Saltdean and staff have been told to re-apply for their jobs.

The 38 employees were given the news of the sell-off at a staff meeting which was called suddenly last week.

They have been told not talk to the media. The jobs of the 24 milkmen are thought to be safe but one milkman said: "We are told our jobs are safe but everything is up in the air at the moment."

One member of the office staff said: "This was previously a family-run dairy, we don't know what will happen in the future."

This is the second family-run dairy firm in the East Brighton area bought by Dairy Crest in two years after it took over the Colin West dairy distribution from the farm at Bevendean.

Farmer Tom Carr, who died two years ago aged 82, built up the dairy herd from the mid Fifties and Coombe Farm Dairies began distributing milk in 1986 with his son David Carr as the main working partner.

At first there were only 30 local customers, who started taking door-step deliveries after being distributed with leaflets saying the local farm was starting a milk distribution service.

With good marketing it built up to its present day operation, serving customers from Seaford to Hove, including shops, catering companies, hotels and schools.

David Carr, 49, said: "I am selling to Dairy Crest to concentrate on running Coombe Farm. We will still be supplying Dairy Crest with milk from the herd.

"The herd of 260 is going to stay here but instead of the milk being distributed by Coombe Farm Dairies, it will be distributed by Dairy Crest.

"I have three daughters and none of them is interested in taking over the business, so I have taken the opportunity of selling to Dairy Crest."

A Dairy Crest statement said: "Both parties are confident the agreement will enhance the excellent standard of service offered by Coombe Farm Dairies to its customers and will help to secure the future of the business."