A fisherman could end up back in court after a judge's order to move his boat from its moorings.

Clive Mills, 41, from Bognor, lost a three-day case at Worthing County Court against Arun District Council and his right to moor his boat on land at Norfolk Wharf, Littlehampton.

The council is considering plans by Bellway Homes to build 83 houses, a pub, a youth hostel and a visitor heritage centre beside the River Arun on the spot where Mr Mills moored his boat.

The judge ordered Mr Mills to remove his boat from the land by today.

Since the court case Mr Mills has had talks with Arun District Council chiefs who, he claims, promised him moorings on the west bank of the river.

But last night Mr Mills received a call from the council ordering him off the riverbank by midnight.

Mr Mills said: "Five weeks ago, after the court case, I started talks with the council and was promised if I agreed to stop the publicity, new moorings would be found.

"But then I got a last-minute phone call to tell me to get off the river and the deal seems to be off. I trusted their word but again they have gone back on it.

"It's absolutely disgusting. I am not going to move from the river and this will probably end up back in court."

Mr Mills attempted to use a 229-year-old law, the White Herring Fisheries Act of 1771, which was renamed the Sea Fisheries Act in 1868, as his defence in court.

It says any land used by herring fishermen for casting nets can be claimed by them if it becomes derelict.

But Judge Robin Barratt said the land may be currently disused but it was not waste.

A spokesman for Arun District Council said: "If Mr Mills is still illegally on the land the council will be moving to enforce the court order. It will then become a matter for the courts.

"We have offered him alternative moorings."