Almost 200 people signed a petition expressing safety fears over a controversial seafront cycle lane.

Campaigner Ann Tyson, who rents a chalet near Beach House, Worthing, collected 170 names, which have been presented to councillors.

She told the executive of Worthing Borough Council: "I am not against the cycle path in general but I am against the area from the Aquarena to Splash Point because of the dangers.

"I only started the petition at the end of the school holidays. I could have got pages and pages during the school holidays. I just stuck it on a board and didn't offer it to anybody."

Mrs Tyson said the council had a moral responsibility to protect children who might be knocked down by cyclists using a narrow path in front of the chalets near Ju-Ju's cafe.

But council engineer Bryan Curtis said: "Following the consultation process these views were expressed and the design team took up the challenge and looked at that area once again.

"We have subsequently decided to widen the path between Splash Point and the Aquarena by a metre. We believe this is acceptable."

The council's legal department had ruled out a bylaw forcing cyclists to wear helmets and have bells on their bikes.

Despite accident fears, the executive supported plans for a lane from the Lancing boundary to Splash Point at a cost of £310,000.

But Tory councillors were furious they were not allowed to debate the issue. Tom Wye said council leader Sheila Player knew the Conservatives "had a plethora of questions and comments".