The creation of the UK's first artificial reef has moved a step closer.

Councillor Geoff Howitt has suggested sinking a bus, boat, cars or tyres off the coast of Shoreham to act as a breeding ground for fish and to attract scuba divers.

Adur District Council is considering his suggestion and assessing how much the venture would cost.

Coun Howitt came up with the idea after visiting artificial reefs off the coast of Florida.

He said: "I saw reefs where they sink bricks and tyres and build them up so they have a reef about a mile from the coast.

"I think it's needed here in Sussex. Fishermen are always complaining there are no fish in the River Adur.

"Trawlers are a big problem in the area as they dredge up all the sea life.

"They drag a heavy plate across the seabed and scoop up everything, including the vegetation.

"This kills off all the fish breeding grounds.

"A reef would encourage different types of fish.

"When lone fishermen want to find shoals they always head out to sunken ships because they are teeming with life.

"Scuba divers have said the same thing. When they dive down and look at where the trawlers have been it's as if a big vessel has gone down and left a tractor mark on the sea floor.

"This is something the South Coast could do with, especially around Sussex. I have no doubt it would attract tourists and scuba divers."

Tony Iles, a partner of Iles World of Diving in Ferry Road, Shoreham, said a reef would attract lobsters, crabs, cuttlefish and bass.

He said: "I think it's a very good idea. It would definitely attract more scuba divers and we could do with something like that round here.

"The dredgers are always lifting silt off the bottom of the sea so we need something to attract life.

"A good variety of fish would breed there but you'd need to build it quite far out because otherwise you would get people snorkelling there and spearing fish."

Also in favour is Paul Simmons, operations manager at Hove Lagoon Water Sports in Kingsway, Hove.

He said: "If it was in the right place the waves would break further out and it would make it easier for windsurfers to launch.

"It's very difficult to launch round here, especially at high tide, so if it made the sea a bit flatter nearer the shore it would be great."

Projects in other parts of the UK are in the development stages.

Two licences have been applied for in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, and Loch Linnhe, Scotland.

Any such structure in the UK requires a licence from the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs.

A spokesman said: "Our policy is that licences are only issued if it is demonstrated there are clear benefits from the establishment of a reef which outweigh any risk to the marine environment or human health.

It must not cause an interference for other users of the sea and there must be no adverse affects on adjacent areas of the coast line.

"We also state reefs should not be used as an excuse for dumping waste."