A Worthing woman whose husband faces life in hospital has lost her legal fight with a council over the pavement where he tripped and fell.

Lilly Landers took West Sussex County Council to court claiming it was negligent in failing to maintain the pavement in Heene Road, Worthing.

But Judge Guy Anthony rejected the 75-year-old's compensation claim this morning after a day-long hearing at Brighton County Court yesterday.

Mrs Landers said the paving stone where husband Bill tripped and fell rocked "like a see-saw".

West Sussex County Council denied responsibility, claiming the pavement had been checked in the previous six months as required by guidelines.

The court heard when a highways engineer discovered what was believed to be the offending slab, it was found to be moving only between five and ten millimetres.

Following the fall seven years ago, Bill broke his hip and leg. During an operation he suffered a fit and has been in hospital ever since.

Mrs Landers, of Offingham Lane, Worthing, told the court her 6ft 2in-tall husband was walking along Heene Road with her in July 1993 when he fell.

When she returned three days later, she said, she found the paving stone tipped between 1.5 and 1.75in when she trod on it.

Highways engineer Colin Mullins said he inspected the pavement in September 1993, two months after receiving a solicitor's letter about the incident.

He found two loose slabs but none which rocked to the extent Mrs Landers had claimed.

He said the pavement had been checked in the previous six months from a slow moving car.