Dozens of Environment Agency jobs could be axed as part of a shake-up of the organisation in Sussex.

Bosses are considering merging its operations in the South to save money which could mean the closure of its Worthing site.

The agency's board of directors will look at downsizing or shutting the base in the town with Sussex's work being handled by staff in Hampshire and Kent instead.

Anti-flood campaigners fear the changes - following a review of staff and spending in the region by the agency - could lead to the loss of staff with expert local knowledge and putting at risk flood defence schemes.

The Environment Agency today rubbished suggestions up to 150 jobs could be lost in the regional restructure.

But Rupert Clubb, the area manager for Sussex, could not guarantee there would not be redundancies.

Howard Davidson, regional director for the Environment Agency, said: "As a Government agency, we have a responsibility to taxpayers to spend their money wisely.

"We need to look at how we operate internally and whether our structures enable us to use as much of our money as possible towards protecting and improving the environment.

"This would mean we could spend less money on layers of management and more on resolving environmental issues in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight."

He said the agency's level of work in Sussex would not be affected and it would have the same responsibilities to the environment.

Mr Davidson said they aimed to avoid making any redundancies and would work from their current offices for at least five years.

He added: "We are incredibly proud of the work of our teams across the region."

A source close to the Environment Agency was concerned the changes would affect flood defence schemes.

They said: "The decision will come as a devastating blow to communities like Uckfield and Selsey who, it is feared, now stand no chance of having proper flood defences and in Lewes, where the flood defences have never been fully improved since the floods that swept through the town in 2000."

However Mr Davidson said: "Flood risk management is funded on a national basis from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through our head office.

"Money is allocated according to areas where there is the highest need.

"This will not be affected by any local restructure."

Lewes MP Norman Baker, the environment spokesman for the Lib Dems, said: "We have got an increased attention being had in the environment at last and the Environment Agency plays an important part in that.

"It assists in enforcing the law and plays a major role in flood defences and the water framework directive.

"There is a lot of local knowledge and experience among the staff at Worthing and we need that."

Mr Baker said the Environment Agency had its funding squeezed by Defra last year after a revamp of the farm payment scheme.

The reform led to a massive increase in the amount of people claiming agricultural subsidies and the cost of administering it soared.

Defra was ordered to cut its budget by £200 million in six months and much of that was passed on to the Environment Agency.

Are you involved in the proposed cutbacks? Or is your home at risk of flooding already? Leave your comments below.