Beer drinkers have stepped up a campaign to keep their local pub serving their town's traditional beer.

Fifty angry customers met in the Lewes Arms, Mount Place, Lewes, last night to discuss how to block plans by the Greene King brewery to stop selling Harveys beer, brewed in Lewes. So many people turned up to the meeting that a further 20 had to be turned away. At last count, more than 500 had signed a petition to keep Harveys Best at the pub.

The campaign is supported by Lewes MP Norman Baker, who has met with representatives of Greene King.

Town mayor Merlin Milner, who was at the meeting, and the town council have written to Greene King asking the brewery to stop using the town crescent on its own beer, called "Lewes Arms Bitter".

Pub regular John May said: "This is a spontaneous campaign that is now taking off in a fairly serious way. It is clear there is a great deal of enthusiastic local support. We will be conducting further events."

The Campaign for Real Ale will promote the fight at the Eastbourne and Worthing beer festivals.