Caravan dwellers have been told to leave a Sussex holiday park because its new owner says their vans are too old.

Up to 180 families at the Martello Beach Caravan Park, Pevensey Bay, will have to move within the next three years.

A total of 56 have been given until December 16 to remove all their belongings.

Many have spent thousands upgrading their caravans and claim they had no idea they would have to move.

The plots on which their homes stand are leased from the company which owns the site. It says it's time to upgrade the park and the old vans have to go.

Hundreds of owners flocked to the holiday site to discuss their next move after being informed of the new policy by letter.

They have formed the Martello Beach Caravan Owners' Association in a bid to overturn the ruling.

A fighting fund has been set up to hire a solicitor and about £800 has been raised.

Many families sent letters pleading with the new owner, Haulfryn Summer Homes, for more time.

One couple, who did not wish to be named for fear it would jeopardise their application, bought their van in January, thinking it was only five months old.

The pair paid £8,000 for it but an inspection later revealed the van to be at least 12 years old.

They were told they had two years before it would be destroyed. They will not receive any form of compensation.

The owner, a 75-year-old man, said: "We've been told we have two years left but it could be sooner. We have spent more than £8,000 on it because we thought we were going to be there for a number of years.

"Many of the people who own the caravans are pensioners and can't afford to buy another one."

Another owner said the caravan park was "like a family" and many owners had been heartbroken after being told to leave.

Rod Tucker, divisional managing director of Haulfryn, said scrapping caravans at ten years old was in the industry code of practice.

He said: "If anyone has a query over the date of their van, it will be looked into. They were given a yearly licence and it clearly says it is for a year.

"We have got to upgrade the park and we are looking to invest quite heavily.

"We have said we are quite prepared to discuss purchasing new or used caravans on the site but the 56 have to go. Some of them are more than 20 years old, which is quite an old age for a caravan."