A controversial plan for a weekly farmers market on a former airfield runway will be decided today.

Councillors faced a flood of complaints about the proposals for the Saturday market from traders in Bognor and Littlehampton.

They claimed the scheme for a site at Ford airfield would hit trade in both town centres.

Arun district councillors were recommended in January to approve the weekly market but deferred the scheme to obtain more details from agents behind the application.

The scheme goes back in front of the development control committee at Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton this evening when a final decision is expected to be made.

Critics of the market include Littlehampton Town Council, which says it could take trade away from areas that "are in need" and it would be similar to having a large out-of-town superstore.

It has also criticised a car boot sale operation at Ford, claiming that a substantial amount of commercial trading is already taking place.

But agents acting for the applicant have denied the market will harm trade in town centres and say it will be mainly used by car boot sale customers.

The council has been told that only produce from a defined area will be sold at the market and all items must have been grown, reared or processed by the stallholders.