FOOD and drink industry leaders - including No 10 Downing Street's official sparkling wine supplier - have come out in support of Britain staying in the EU.

Nick Mosley and Andrew Kay, directors of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, along with Ridgeview Wines are backing the Remain campaign, it was revealed yesterday (Sunday).

Mr Mosley said Brexit could leave businesses struggling to hire and would be "tremendously damaging" to the service economy.

He said: “From the vineyards and farms of Sussex to the restaurants and bars that serve us, it’s an absolute reality that we rely on the freedom of movement of people.

"The skills and professional dedication of our European partners are vital."

Leading Brighton vegetarian restaurant Terra a Terre is also backing Remain - as well as successful Brighton eateries Pizzaface, Boho Gelato, Curry Leaf Café and the Nordic Coffee Collective, whose owners showed their support for the union at the festival.

Catherine Bearder, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East, said the EU protected food and drink "traditions and culture".

She said: "Just as the EU recognises Champagne, Parma ham and feta cheese it also protects us from cheap imitations of Cornish pasties, Cumberland sausages, Stilton cheese and, soon, Sussex wines.

“The status that the EU confers protects the identity of our traditional products and helps us sell more of them across the Europe.

"The EU is also considering extending this protection to traditional non-food crafts items such as the Sussex Trugs."

But Councillor Tom Bewick, Labour councillor, businessman and chair of Brighton and Hove Vote Leave campaign, told The Argus businesses would be better off outside, arguing that membership harms efforts to trade with the rest of the world.

Cllr Bewick, who founded and owns New Work Training, which delivers apprenticeships in the U.K. and US, said: "It is hard to argue that the EU is a great economic success story when you have such high unemployment in France and Spain.

"I think it has become an un-reformable institution that tramples on our democratic rights and national sovereignty."

Leaving would not stop businesses hiring from abroad and the World Trade Organisation independently protects cultural products, he added.