A campaign to ban noisy car alarms was today backed by an MP.

Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat member for Lewes, is leading calls for a ban on the devices, which he says do little to improve security.

He has tabled a Private Member's Bill that would outlaw new cars from having them fitted.

He said alarms were a waste of time because they rarely signalled a car actually being broken into.

The MP said he had been told by Sussex Police that people phoning to report an alarm were now referred to council environmental health departments.

Mr Baker said: "Alarms are a nuisance. It's not as if anyone rushes to check what's happening if they hear one going off.

"People do nothing except get woken up and annoyed.

"Instances of alarms going off when cars are actually being broken into are as rare as a blue moon."

But a spokesman for car accessory firm Motorworld, in Lewes, disagreed.

He said: "I don't know anyone who doesn't check when they hear an alarm.

"Besides, they are often so loud a thief cannot actually steal the car while the alarm is still sounding."

He said small firms could be hit if legislation was introduced.

Mr Baker responded: "I would be concerned if anyone were to lose their jobs.

"But I would say sell other security devices rather than these awful alarms which are an environmental nuisance. This Bill has been tabled partly in response to my constituents, several of whom have complained to me, as well as other people around the country."

Alarms are already controlled by an EU directive banning them from sounding for more than 30 seconds or at more than 115 decibels.

The regulations were brought in following years of lobbying by campaigners including the Noise Abatement Society, a national organisation based in Brighton that campaigns against unnecessary noise.

Chairman Peter Wakeham said: "We have had some success in restricting car alarms but there need to be tighter controls.

"I don't think alarms should be banned altogether."