A row between two Government departments could delay work on sea defences.

Brighton and Hove City Council wants to rebuild the sea wall and Undercliff Walk between the Marina and Ovingdean.

But there is an argument over funding the £10 million project between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).

Work on the site is due to begin next spring and should take a year to complete.

Defra, which will pay for most of the work, said organisations benefiting from it should also make a contribution.

This would include the council in its capacity as roads authority because the A259 coast road is nearby.

The council made an application for funding to DTLR but it did not want to contribute towards a scheme that would not directly benefit roads.

Council environment director Alan McCarthy said the city council had made an approach to Elliot Morley, the Defra minister responsible for coastal protection, and had asked Kemp Town MP Des Turner to intervene.

Mr McCarthy added: "It is difficult for the council to try to resolve an issue that is a central Government inter-departmental matter.

"The danger is Defra will make an award but less a sum it feels should be met by the highway authority."

The council did ask DTLR for £1 million, which was refused. It is now offering £56,000 to Defra as a gesture in the hope the department will fund the rest.

If it is refused, the council will have to wait for the two departments to resolve the argument, which could mean the scheme being delayed indefinitely.