Demonstrators have taken to the streets in Prestonpans to oppose plans by discount retailers Lidl to dispose of the old Coeval building.

They fear the proposed sale of the site to housing developers will lead to the demolition of the landmark structure — once the headquarters of local brewers Fowler's Ales.

Among those taking part in the protest on Tuesday morning were members of the Prestoungrange Arts Festival, who are bidding to purchase the building from Lidl for use as a community arts centre.

They have already outlined plans to conserve its original features in a restoration project similar to that undertaken at the Prestoungrange Gothenburg, which is currently home to the arts festival.

Understand

Supporters of the arts festival proposal have called for the 1950s building to be listed and believe it should be preserved as the only surviving structure, still in working order, from the town's industrial heyday.

Asking Lidl to rethink its plans for the site, arts festival convener Andrew Crummy said: "We have come to understand these past 10 years that honouring history and using the arts as servant is a powerful ingredient in social and economic regeneration of any hard hit community.

"It should be conserved no matter who might win in the bidding process.

"To demolish the old Fowler's HQ simply for a better profit and to create a few more homes is to miss the point of everything we have been demonstrating and doing."