A town centre has been described as an "obstacle course" for the blind.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton and representatives from the charity 4Sight did an audit of the High Street in Shoreham after hearing concerns it was becoming cluttered.

Town centre manager David Steadman has spruced up the area with new planters and cycle racks but the eyeline is spoiled by a mass of poles, signs and other objects.

These can become an obstacle course for people who cannot see well or have to use wheelchairs or electric buggies.

Mr Loughton, Mr Steadman and West Sussex councillor Clive Williams and Pat Marshall and Ginny Worman from 4Sight went on a tour of the area to draw up the audit.

The audit found standing store signs outside shops could be located closer to the shop and face in a straight line rather than in a zig-zag formation so guide dogs are not having to weave in and out and the chance of bumping into them is reduced.

Most poles and lamp-posts are painted black but others painted sky grey are hard to pick out by partially sighted people.

The tour members also noticed some poles seemed to be badly misplaced or surplus to requirements altogether.

There was also concern about drivers parking on the pavements and in some cases across crossing points which have bumpy pavement surfaces specifically set up to help blind people orientate themselves.

Mr Loughton said: "All it needs is for people to use a little more consideration and think about the needs of people with disabilities.

"It is challenging enough to get around busy streets if you cannot see or are confined to a wheelchair and putting cars, vans, signs and other obstacles in their way really does not help.

"This was a very interesting exercise for me and I hope that we can clear up Shoreham High Street and other similar roads so that they are safer and more attractive places for everyone to use whether they have a disability or not."

Mr Steadman is planning to contact shopkeepers to see if they can help and the county's highways department will also be looking into the matter.