Hundreds of people have joined forces to fight plans for a proposed incinerator in West Sussex.

They called on councillors to reject proposals for a waste disposal plant as a public consultation into them drew to a close yesterday.

West Sussex County Council is currently considering plans to build an incinerator at three possible sites in the county including the Warnham Brickworks, near Horsham, Shoreham cement works, near Steyning, and Portfield, near Chichester.

The proposals are contained in the county's Waste Plan, which have been examined as part of a public consultation into the Municipal Waste Management Strategy, which considers the county's general waste policy.

Action group Horsham Anti-incineration Task force is among groups fighting the plans and have been campaigning against the proposals for Warnham Brickworks.

Member Rachel Fuller said: "The plans were drawn up and sites prioritised without consideration of whether an incinerator is needed in the area, which the council is supposed to do.

"These things produce substances which are amongst the most highly toxic on earth.

"This isn't a case of scare-mongering because there are a number of members who have scientific backgrounds so we have done a lot of research into the possible effects of incinerators."

She believes the scheme could also discourage recycling in the area.

She said: "In order for contractors to invest in incinerators, which could be a ten or twenty year investment, they need assurances they will have enough waste to deal with.

"Incinerators are also supposed to be placed as close as possible to where the waste is being produced, yet this one would be on a county boundary."

Dr Jeffrey Richardson, also a member, said the proposals looked likely to go ahead.

He said: "Although the council may not admit it directly, I believe they are, so far, in favour of the site."

Cllr Pamela Clarke, of Horsham district council, said: "It could also mean rubbish being brought in from other areas and greater traffic problems."

A county council spokesman refused to rule out the chance an incinerator may be built on the site.

He said: "The site at Warnham was included as a possibility in the draft plan. No decisions have yet been reached."