The finishing touches are being put to a multi-million pound bypass which officially opens this week.

Civic leaders, including John King of Angmering Parish Council, will be among guests attending the long-awaited opening of the Angmering bypass on Friday.

Its completion will be greeted with delight by villagers who have had to endure traffic congestion for many years.

Mr King said: "It is to be hoped the opening of the bypass will make a great difference to the life of the village.

"The new signage will direct much of the through traffic on to the new road, with a consequent reduction in congestion, noise, pollution and the hazard to pedestrians."

Work on the 2.3km dual carriageway, which cost £4 million, has been paid for and constructed by developers of a major new housing site next to the village.

The foot-and-mouth crisis led to the scheme being delayed when stringent restrictions prevented technical and archaeological surveys being completed but work on the bypass has been completed six months ahead of the revised schedule.

The new road will carry traffic from just east of the Roundstone Garden Centre on the A259 Worthing Road to the A280 at Water Lane.