Residents are being invited to name a new multi-million pound footbridge.

The public in Shoreham are being invited by West Sussex County Council to enter a competition to name the new Shoreham Footbridge.

The landmark swing bridge connecting the town centre to Shoreham Beach over the River Adur is expected to open to the public in September.

The cost of the building has soared from original estimates of £4.7 million to almost double its final cost.

Funding for the project has come from West Sussex County Council and transport charity Sustrans.

Whoever wins the competition will become the first member of the public to cross the new bridge and will be given the opportunity to operate the swinging centrepiece.

To enter the competition, e-mail your suggested name to namethebridge@westsussex.gov.uk or post it to: Name the Bridge Competition, Ground Floor Northleigh, Tower Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1RH.

Entries will be accepted from now until Wednesday May 29 with only one entry accepted from each email or postal address.

Each entry should clearly include the suggested name, the reason for the suggestion (maximum 100 words), a contact name, date of birth, postal address and a contact telephone number.

A judging panel will then pick the five strongest entries, which will be put forward for a public vote to run alongside the Adur Festival over the first two weeks in June.