Beach hut owners and chalet tenants face an uphill battle to secure a rent freeze next year after a steep rise this summer.

Users of the holiday havens were furious after Suffolk Coastal put the rents up by 20% for chalets and 12% for huts at Felixstowe.

After public meetings and a protest march, they formed an association.

Roy Gray, a member of the committee, said the group’s first meeting with Suffolk Coastal had been very constructive and positive.

He said: “We asked for a rent freeze following the rises this year, but were told that would be very doubtful and no decisions will be made yet about the 2014-15 charges.”

Geoff Holdcroft, cabinet member for leisure and economic development, said: “We intend to meet with the association again in the future to build on this constructive beginning.”