More than 500 people have signed a petition against plans to build homes on a leisure centre site.

Organisers expect hundreds more names to be added by residents unhappy at proposals to build flats on the site of the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove.

Brighton and Hove City Council says 300 to 400 homes will be needed on the site to fund the redevelopment or rebuilding of the crumbling centre.

The council has proposed several options for redeveloping the King Alfred in Kingsway, each of which involve building at least 275 flats.

One option would involve building the flats combined with a modern sports centre.

The council has launched a public consultation to ask residents which option they would prefer.

However, opposition to the plans was almost unanimous at a public meeting held earlier this month at the Princes Marine Hotel in Hove.

The petition will be presented to the council by Tory councillor Denise Cobb at a meeting on July 18.

The petitioners say there should only be a sports centre on the site and no housing.

Residents in the St Aubyns area are worried the development will obscure their sea views and make parking even more difficult.

Kiryn Crabb, 30, and her partner, Steven Haw, 36, bought their balcony flat in St Aubyns about a year ago and fear the views which made them decide to buy will be jeopardised by the development.

They say they already have parking difficulties and the additional flats would make the problem worse.

They are among many residents in the area protesting against the scheme.

Councillor Cobb said not everyone had received the council consultation form on the development.

She said: "This highlights the importance of individual letters of objection and the need to sign our petition."

The council said the flats were a necessary part of the redevelopment, bringing in much of the cost, which is expected to reach between £10 million and £22 million.

A spokesman has said it would not be possible to redevelop the King Alfred without a substantial development of flats.

The council asked the public to support the development during consultation, which has been given a vast amount of publicity.

Councillor Cobb said anyone wanting to help with the petition should ring her on 01273 291145.