Leading Labour councillor Gill Mitchell is calling on colleagues to put party politics aside and agree a common approach for dealing with sewage treatment.

Southern Water has proposed eight sites for a new treatment plant following the rejection by the Government two years ago of plans to upgrade the centre at Portobello, Telscombe Cliffs.

Two of the sites are at Newhaven, one at Peacehaven and one at Shoreham Harbour but the remaining four are at East Brighton. They are Black Rock, Upper and Lower Sheepcote Valley and Ovingdean.

Coun Mitchell, who represents King's Cliff, has written to Labour and Tory councillors in her ward, Marine, Rottingdean and Woodingdean.

She said the four Brighton sites should be ruled out and added: "I feel strongly that this plant should be located on a site that is already semi-industrialised and away from open countryside and residential properties.

"I believe the two ports of Shoreham or Newhaven are the only realistic options available."

"We should work together to defeat these proposals and party political differences should be put aside "I am sure that by combining our argument and sharing the expertise of environmentalists and others, we can construct a powerful case for the protection of these sites."