A keen swimmer faces a lifetime of hip problems after climbing a fence that should never have been put up.

Dave Pollington of Warrior Close, Portslade, was trying to jump over a newly-erected 1.5-metre fence around the southern side of Homebase DIY store car park in Shoreham when he fell and broke his hip.

He has since discovered the store had not gained planning permission for the fence.

Mr Pollington, a father of three, said: "My friends and I went swimming at Wadurs and always parked in the Homebase car park.

"On this day they had put the fence up so when we came out we decided to hop over it.

"I should not have been climbing over the fence but I was climbing a fence that should not have been there."

Homebase was only entitled to erect a one-metre fence without planning permission rather than the 1.5-metre one that has been put up.

An application has since been made to Adur District Council for permission.

Concerns about the fence have been voiced in The Argus. Last week, members of the disabled swimming group, Aqua Therapy, formed a protest.

A petition with 1,627 signatures has been handed to Adur District Council.

Adur District Council and Hampshire County Council, owners of the land, are looking to seal a preliminary agreement to lease part of the car park at a peppercorn rent for people using the swimming pool.

A spokesman for Homebase said: "Following a risk assessment, a decision was taken to erect a fence around the Shoreham store car park to prevent the public from putting itself at risk from traffic accidents.

"We are sorry if someone was hurt by falling off the fence, but anyone who attempts to climb a fence as a short-cut must take responsibility for their own actions."