A councillor has called for the head of a transport chief after it emerged a controversial link road is £13 million over budget.

Work already undertaken on Bexhill to Hastings route is believed to have cost East Sussex County Council £38 million.

However, a recent reassessment reported to members found it to be £13 million short.

Liberal Democrat councillor Rosalyn St Pierre accused Carl Maynard, the authority’s lead councillor for transport and environment, of “mismanagement on a massive scale”.

Coun St Pierre said: “It is a disgrace children across the whole of East Sussex continue to be taught in Portakabins, while the county council squanders its already tight finances on a road whose economic value is at best questionable.

“This is mismanagement on a massive scale, and Carl Maynard should take responsibility for it and resign.

“He has been lead member for transport in the period when the gap in the budget emerged, and it was not even put in the budget report for this financial year."

At Wednesday's emergency meeting, councillors were asked to approve the additional £13 million expenditure.

The ruling Conservatives voted for it, and were supported by Labour, Ukip and independent councillor Ruth O'Keeffe.

The ten Liberal Democrat members abstained.

Supporters of the road claim it will bring regeneration and jobs but opponents believe the economic benefits are dubious and question the environmental impact.