Beach hut owners have been told to replace their seafront sheds with something smarter or give up their pitches.

A row of 12 huts at Lancing beach has been condemned after Adur District Council sent a surveyor to check whether they were safe.

The huts were judged to be poorly maintained and the surveyor said some could contain asbestos.

Owners have been given until October 31 to knock down their huts, replace them and sign up for new licences next year.

Those who refuse will lose their pitches.

Sheelagh Sales, 45, bought her ten-year-old hut for £1,000 in 1999 but says it is now worthless.

She said: "They're saying the huts are rotten and full of asbestos but mine only needs a little bit of work and there's no way it could have asbestos.

"Four people have already knocked their huts down, mostly elderly people who can't afford to replace them.

"Beach huts can cost a lot of money but mine is worthless now because it has been condemned.

The council is saying it's a fire hazard but the huts have been there for decades and they've never caused any problems.

"Mine was built ten years ago by a boat-builder and it's solid.

"It's not as if the council provides a lot of facilities at the beach. There's a loo and there used to be a pub but that closed a while ago.

"It's a lovely spot, where people can go for a mini-holiday by the sea. It would be a shame to lose the mix of people we have there at the moment."

Adur took over running the huts from Lancing Parish Council this year and has more than doubled annual rents to £132.

A council spokeswoman said: "Maintenance had been neglected over the years. The change in management is an opportune time to set out new pitches. This means the removal of the existing huts, most of which are beyond repair. Compensation does not arise. We have a waiting list for the refurbished pitches."