Plans to move a bus stop 20 yards down a road have sparked a furious row which could end in legal action.

Liz Dunkerton is angry that Brighton and Hove City Council is moving the stop in Old London Road, Patcham, from outside the Co-op supermarket to outside the Scout Hut 20 yards down the road.

Mrs Dunkerton, 41, lives next door to the hut which is used by Patcham Pre-School group as well as the 44th Brighton Scout Group. She says she is considering taking out an injunction to prevent the move going ahead.

Mums, residents, playgroup staff and scout leaders put together a 350-signature petition against the move which they say could be dangerous for the children.

Mrs Dunkerton said: "We're concerned about children running out into the road. Buses are higher than cars so a car driver is more likely to see a child."

The council said drivers use the Co-op stop as a parking space while they use the cash machine and the move would discourage this but residents said they did not believe a 20-yard move would be enough to put people off.

The road is also narrower outside the nursery than by the Co-op, with several junctions leading into it.

The council said the stop is also moving so buses can reach a wheelchair-accessible kerb.

The stop would be part of two new pedestrian crossing points.

But Mrs Dunkerton said the kerb outside the nursery has only recently been raised and the kerb at the Co-op could easily have been raised instead.

One crossing point which has already been installed behind the proposed space is being taken down and moved back three metres because residents pointed out it would prevent buses from angling into the space properly.

The council also said the works would improve access and safety for the students of nearby Patcham House Special School.

However, there is already a bus stop outside Patcham House and the majority of children come to school with their parents or by taxi.

Mrs Dunkerton said she only found out what was happening when builders arrived to start work in January.

The council said it had sent out consultation documents and pinned up notices but neither Mrs Dunkerton, the nursery nor the scouts had seen them.

Work was suspended following residents' complaints but is due to restart soon. All three ward councillors and David Lepper, the Brighton Pavilion MP have complained to the council about the move.

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: "It just doesn't make sense that they're spending money on this. The council decides what it wants to do, consults on it and then goes ahead anyway."

A spokesman for the council said: "The scheme of works we're undertaking in Patcham village has been fully assessed by independent road safety experts. They agree it will improve safety, not detract from it."