Water officials have been urged not to build a multi-million pound water treatment works in West Sussex.

Adur councillors say it is not fair that waste from Brighton could be treated in their area.

Southern Water is considering where to put its new plant, which is needed to meet new European cleanliness directives, and one option is Shoreham Harbour.

At a meeting last night, council leader Neil Parkin said Adur should not have to deal with sewage from another area.

He said: "We are not being NIMBY. We've got works in our back yard for our waste. It's having another one for other people's waste that we find galling.

"The thing I find frightening is Southern Water is a private company but has the right to compulsory purchase.

"If it wanted the sewage plant on Shoreham Harbour and got planning permission, it could purchase port-related use land.

"It's Brighton's waste but Brighton and Hove City Council has not been particularly helpful by saying no to all the sites on its patch."

About 95 million litres of wastewater is produced by businesses and residents between Hove and Peacehaven every day and Southern Water has to improve how it is treated before pumping it into the sea.

Adur's executive policy board agreed to object to establishing the sewage plant at Shoreham on the grounds that it did not fulfill Government criteria, a major concern being the distance from Shoreham to Brighton's sewer network.

An eight-kilometre pipeline and pumping station would have to be built under the A259, causing major traffic disruption.

The Government says sites for wastewater works should be in the region where the sewage is produced.

Parts of the sewage system between Hove and Peacehaven date back to Victorian times.

An existing sewage works at Telscombe Cliffs was built in the Seventies but it only gives wastewater basic treatment. Plans for a new treatment plant at Portobello, Brighton, were rejected.

Councillor Parkin has urged residents to play an active role in voicing their opinions about the proposal The other sites being considered for the plant are Black Rock, Kemp Town and Sheepcote Valley in Brighton, Ovingdean, Peacehaven, Brookside Farm, Newhaven, and North Quay, Newhaven.