Waste managers are stepping up their campaign against plans to dump 2.6 million tonnes of London's rubbish in West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council claims a ruling against a new landfill site proves it cannot deal with extra rubbish from the capital.

The South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) is proposing West Sussex takes 2.6 million tonnes of household waste from London between now and 2025.

The council opposes the idea and said the results of an appeal over plans to build a giant rubbish tip near Haywards Heath show why.

An independent inspector last month dismissed an appeal over plans to build a giant rubbish tip at Freshfield Lane, Danehill.

He said the site would damage an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and create serious road dangers with the amount of rubbish trucks.

Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said today: "These points do not apply to just the site in Freshfield Lane.

"These and other factors pose difficult questions about the provision of landfill sites across West Sussex.

"Of the limited potentially suitable places for landfill in the county, few are outside Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty where waste disposal activities and vehicle movements are likely to have damaging effects.

"That is why we objected to the proposals drawn up by Seera, which would be on top of providing for our own needs."