The number of new homes planned for countryside on the outskirts of Worthing could be increased to 1,000 if Whitehall officials have their way.

But the borough council has pledged to fight any bid to increase the density of housing from the 850 already planned for West Durrington.

Council officials are studying plans to find suitable sites elsewhere in the town to make up a housebuilding shortfall.

The Government Office for the South-East believes Worthing should be building more homes than outlined in the Local Plan.

Clare Mangan, of the council's planning department, said: "It is clear that the council must give detailed consideration of the options for identifying additional housing sites.

"One option would be to indicate a reserve site (for housing) at West Durrington, which would normally be developed after 2006."

But the council is reluctant to raise the numbers of homes because it might eat away at land earmarked for landscaping.

Instead, officers would prefer to keep the number of houses at West Durrington as it is.

This would leave the borough 219 units short.