A cricket club says it is justified in removing a memorial to one of Sussex's greats to ensure the future of the game.

Sussex County Cricket Club has decided to build an indoor school on the George Cox Memorial Garden.

The club has planning permission for a five-lane school at the County Ground in Hove and has put the work out to tender.

The million-pound facilities will help the club challenge bigger cricketing counties.

Although the majority of the development will be on disused squash courts, Sussex Cricket Society members were upset the memorial garden would go.

Mr Cox played for Sussex from 1931 to 1951, amassing more than 23,000 runs and 50 centuries in his career.

The tribute to one of the county's legendary players is maintained by the society.

One member said: "The garden is a peaceful haven, lovingly preserved by the society.

"A number of us felt there was no consultation at all and felt very hurt by this.

"We also felt the centre of excellence could be accommodated at the southern end of the ground.

"They could have shown a little more care."

He said he understood the club wanted to improve the standard of its youngsters but said he felt the society members had not been properly consulted.

The club's operations manager, Hugh Griffiths, said there was an agreement to allocate a new garden area after the building work had been completed.

He said: "It is sad for a lot of older people who remember the ground as it was.

"There are others in our 4,500 members who think it is the unacceptable face of the modern business world.

"But I would think 90 per cent of our members would rather see our prospects for young cricketers improving."

He said their two-lane facilities were probably the worst in county cricket.

Mr Griffiths said: "The cricket society has not bought the land for the garden.

"We gave them the land when we could afford it but now we are sorry there are more important priorities."