Roads bosses have been accused of messing up the streets to avoid lawsuits from people tripping on paving slabs.

MP Norman Baker says East Sussex County Council's policy of replacing wonky paving with Tarmac is ruining the look of Seaford.

The Liberal Democrat member for Lewes says he has received complaints from residents in North Way, Stafford Road and Belgrave Crescent about the practice.

Last month The Argus reported that almost £5 million had been paid to people who have tripped up on Sussex pavements in the past five years.

East Sussex County Council paid £2,096,104 on 676 claims, including £1.3 million for footpath defects between 2000 and 2004. The authority is required to carry out regular inspections of the footpaths under its jurisdiction.

If "trip" threats are identified works must be carried out to make the footpath safe. It is now the council's standard practice in areas with paving slabs to remove these and repair the footpath with "blacktop" a cheaper Tarmac-based surface.

Mr Baker said: "I do appreciate that traditional slabs are more expensive than using blacktop. But where slabs exist I think these should be maintained especially in conservation areas. The county is making a mess out of the fine pavements of Seaford."

Mr Baker said councils were putting down the blacktop in fear of being sued by members of the public who trip over broken slabs.

A person who slips in the street and suffers a broken ankle can receive about £3,000 in compensation.

One claimant who tripped on an uneven pavement, in Charlestone Road, Eastbourne, successfully claimed £84,365 against the county council.

The Association of British Insurers said there was a perception of a "compensation culture" in Britain which may be encouraging people to make fraudulent claims.

Mr Baker said: "Obviously councils are scared of being sued and they can't leave pavements damaged but they could take action to stop cars and lorries going up on pavements which causes a lot of damage. The pavements are being vandalised by drivers."

A spokesman for the council said: "A routine inspection carried out by East Sussex Highways found that the paving slabs in question were potential trip hazards. In the interests of pedestrian safety they were quickly removed and replaced with blacktop."