Civic leaders were so taken with the public-spirited actions of a millionaire businessman they decided to name a road after him.

Robbie Raggio knew access to his hand car wash at Hove station has been causing problems for years.

He openly admitted that cars queueing down the street to get on to his forecourt were causing an obstruction and breaking the law so, in his usual no nonsense way, he came up with his own solution to the problem and paid for a new access road to be built.

Robbie agreed to foot the £5,000 bill for the work himself so buses and other traffic using Station Approach would no longer be held up by his customers.

Brighton and Hove City Council and Hove MP Ivor Caplin were so impressed they decided to name the new slip road after him.

Mr Caplin joined Robbie and city bus boss Roger French when the access was named Robbies Approach yesterday morning.

Robbie said: "There is no doubt we had been breaking the law for some time.

"With customers queueing down the road it was sometimes impossible for the buses to get round the tight corner by the station.

"Something had to be done about it so we came up with this idea, which makes life easier for everyone and it is very nice to have a road named after me."

Mr Caplin said: "Robbie's hand car wash is one of a few in the city and it has become more and more popular over the years.

"He has worked with the council and the bus company to provide a solution to the problem and has paid for the work to be done. I am pleased the matter has been so successfully resolved."

Roger French, managing director of Brighton Bus and Coach Company, said: "Congestion here had become a significant problem. I have got nothing but praise for Robbie, who recognised the problem and was willing to find a solution.

"If other businesses acted as responsibly, there would be far fewer problems with traffic congestion in the city."