Two Sussex MPs have joined a campaign against the widespread introduction of glass bans in pubs and bars.

David Lepper and Peter Bottomley believe "indiscriminate" bans on glasses across large areas diminish the "pub-going experience".

They have signed a Commons motion following warnings from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) that an increasing number of police forces are putting pressure on pubs to go plastic.

The Early Day Motion has won the cross party support of 26 MPs.

Mr Lepper, Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: "While local authorities should have the power to make the use of plastic a requirement, it shouldn't be a blanket requirement (across a whole city).

"It should be based on what they believe is necessary in a particular pub or group of pubs.

"Why should people sitting down for a quiet drink in a place where there is no trouble have to drink out of plastic?"

Mr Lepper said he preferred to drink his Harveys Best out of a "proper glass" like most people.

However police want to protect people like Claire Webb, 26, who suffered serious injuries after a glass was thrown across a pub and smashed into her face during a night out.

She was enjoying a night out at The Toad pub, now called Que Pasa, in Chapel Road, Worthing, when the incident happened.

Miss Webb, a solicitor, said: "It was incredibly painful because it hit me on the side of my eye which is quite a delicate place.

"When you just go out for a drink with some friends, you donít expect to have to take at least two days off work because of getting hurt."

Toby Connor, 28, from North Farm Road, Worthing, who was also hit by glass while out in a pub, believes a glass ban could work in certain bars.

Mr Connor was hurt after a shard of glass hit him during a fight in The Assembly bar, also Chapel Road, last year.

He said: "You wouldn't want it everywhere but I can see in certain bars it would help and it would protect people."

Police have recently called for glass bans in towns including Newport in South Wales, Fareham in Hampshire, Trowbridge in Wiltshire, Slough in Berkshire, Kingston in Surrey, Ilford in Essex and Daventry in Northamptonshire.

BBPA director Martin Rawlings said he feared the trend would continue across the country.

He said: "Police do not have the power to insist, although they can make life difficult for licensees, especially if there is an incident in a pub which could lead to trouble for them.

"It is threatening to become a big issue and we are looking at the whole thing carefully. The use of plastic is not a panacea for all ills."

The motion signed by Mr Lepper and West Worthing MP Mr Bottomley states that plastic glasses cause environmental damage and should only be imposed "where absolutely necessary".