The size of proposed traveller camps in West Sussex will have to be increased to cope with a sudden invasion and stop money being wasted.

As reported in The Argus, civic leaders in Arun have revealed plans to create a temporary site to house 12 families.

But fears have now been raised this would not be enough and a bigger site will be needed.

Leaders at Arun District Council want to work with neighbouring Worthing Borough Council to build one or two new temporary sites across the two council areas.

Littlehampton and Worthing are being considered as possible locations.

Worthing councillors will meet in the near future to discuss the alliance but several ruling Cabinet members on the Arun council have voiced fears that allocating space for 12 families will not be enough.

Councillor Roger Elkins said: "Certainly from my experience 12 places will not be adequate for the summer period.

"We need to make more provision for travellers who are attracted to this part of the coast."

Hundreds of travellers regularly descend on the two areas in the summer leaving both councils with huge clean-up bills from clearing unofficial camps.

Councillor Stephen Brookman, Arun Cabinet member for the environment, said: "We know anecdotally we can get more than 20 families turning up in a site in Arun.

"Room for 12 families may not be enough to cope with a sudden influx. What happens in that situation?

"The residents will be unhappy and we will have spent the money but we won't have solved the problem."

Colin Rogers, Arun's services director, said there were still many questions that needed to be answered before the proposals became a reality.

The biggest would be where the site or sites would be located and how the councils would meet the estimated £30,000 running costs.

He said: "Should there be a residential warden? How would you limit occupation to one month to make sure it is a transit site and not residential?"

Leading councillors on Worthing Borough Council are due to meet on June 17 to get approval to work with Arun to find new transit sites and apply for Government funding.

The first meeting between the authorities will be held on June 26. Both are also be working with West Sussex County Council on the plans.