Smokers will be stopped from lighting up in a Sussex shopping centre next month in a trial scheme which could be made permanent.

Market Place shopping centre in Burgess Hill is to ban cigarettes on March 12, which is National No Smoking Day.

The ban will be part of a month-long trial period and could become permanent if shoppers give their approval.

The move follows calls from Burgess Hill Town Council's environmental issues forum to make the centre a smoking-free zone.

It will bring it into line with County Mall, Crawley, and Churchill Square shopping centre, Brighton.

Chris Goldfinch, manager of Market Place, said: "It costs us thousands of pounds each year to maintain the cleanliness of the centre.

"Discarded cigarette ends are an unpleasant nuisance, particularly when they are still alight when thrown away."

Tony Balsdon, chairman of the environmental issues forum, said: "We believe this ban will be beneficial to the health and environment of all visitors to the shopping centre."

Shoppers are invited to send their reactions to the scheme to Judy Pointing on 01444 238211, or judy@burgesshill.gov.uk