Three youth hostels in Sussex are to be axed next year because they no longer meet the standards required by todays backpacker.

The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) is scrapping venues in Brighton, Hastings and Blackboys, near Uckfield, as part of an £18 million overhaul that will see 32 closures nationwide.

They are poorly located, underused, too old and do not meet requirements in terms of room sizes and private facilities such as bathrooms, according to the association.

YHA plans to replace the hostels at Patcham Place, London Road, Brighton, and at Rye Road, Guestling, near Hastings, with new and improved facilities. But the Blackboys hostel will close for good, resulting in the loss of one job.

YHA regional manager Caroline Sier said: "The lease on the current council-owned premises in Brighton expires next year. It is only running at 40 per cent capacity and needs £500,000 of investment to bring it up to scratch.

A honeypot location like Brighton should be running at 70 per cent.

"We are working with the council to find a replacement closer to the centre of the city and with improved facilities for young independent travellers."

There are currently 56 beds at Patcham Place, including three dormitories housing up to a dozen people at a cost of £16 a night.

Mrs Sier said the YHA is moving towards smaller rooms and more private facilities in response to customer demand and a growth in interest from families.

The 30-bed wooden cabin hostel at Blackboys is in need of a £500,000 rebuild to bring it up to minimum standards set out by tourist board Visit Britain.

Mrs Sier said: "It is not seen as a key location and the investment required to bring it up to standard cannot be justified in that rural location.

"We would rather spend money getting a really fantastic facility in the centre of Brighton.

"The Hastings hostel is well out of town in a remote setting and we are looking to find an alternative site."