Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has described plans to extend an airport runway as environmentally and commercially flawed.

Owners of Shoreham airport want to extend the runway to attract more commercial flights.

Dr Lucas, MEP for the South-East, including Sussex, and a member of the European Parliament's environment and transport committees, said: "The airport's owners should go back to the drawing board.

"The proposed runway would still be too short. The flight path would have to cross either housing in the Lancing area or the proposed South Downs national park.

"The plans must be subject to environmental scrutiny before a meaningful consultation can take place."

Public consultation on the future of the airport has already started.