A former mayor and current serving councillor has been arrested after a beach hut fracas.

East Sussex county councillor David Neighbour was quizzed by police following the incident on Saltdean beach on Saturday.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mr Neighbour, of Central Avenue, Telscombe Cliffs, admitted to The Argus he had "thumped" two men, but insisted he was acting in self-defence.

During the row, which started over bicycles leaned against a beach hut, one of the men, Nigel Heasman, of Saltdean, said he received a cut which required seven stitches.

One onlooker, who did not want to be named, said: "There were lots of children watching who started screaming and crying."

Ken Tancred, owner of a neighbouring hut, said he intervened after his six-year-old daughter Katie became distressed.

Mr Tancred, of Rottingdean, said: "She was so upset, I went into his hut to have it out with him. I punched him in the face and he tried to hit me back."

A witness called the police, who took Mr Neighbour in for questioning before later releasing him without charge.

Mr Neighbour, who returned to the beach yesterday afternoon, said: "I was assaulted and I defended myself. I was thumped by the two men so I thumped them back.

"I don't know anything about one of them having to have stitches. The police asked me about what happened and let me go."

Mr Heasman, who said he had had to have five stitches in his ear and two just behind the ear, said: "He attacked me. It wasn't the other way round. I only hit him to fend him off."

He has given a statement to police and wants Mr Neighbour to apologise.

Sussex Police confirmed they had been called to the fight and had arrested a man.

As well as serving on the county council, Mr Neighbour, a former teacher and social worker, represents Telscombe Cliffs on Lewes District Council.

He has served as Telscombe's mayor for three terms of office and is also a member of the East Sussex Fire Authority and vice-chairman of Brighton and Lewes Community Health Council.