Residents campaigning for traffic noise to be reduced have been told not to expect improvements for years.

People in Hangleton want the Highways Agency to apply whisper concrete or black asphalt to the A27 Brighton and Hove bypass, opened 11 years ago.

The agency has confirmed the road is not considered loud enough to warrant any treatment.

The Government has promised to install quieter surfaces on more than 60 per cent of the country's roads by 2010.

Three years ago, the Government announced an annual ring-fenced budget of £5 million to deal with "the most serious and pressing cases of traffic noise".

Bob Ball, route administrator at the agency's Dorking base, said the Brighton bypass was not a priority.

He said: "The present position is that this section of the A27 is in good condition and resurfacing is not expected for some years.

"We will seek to take advantage of new quieter materials that are available in deciding which treatment is appropriate when resurfacing is eventually required."

Residents living in Broad Rig Avenue, Lynchets Crescent and Hangleton Valley Drive have complained about the constant drone and rumble of traffic.

Cathrine Jackson, of Broad Rig Avenue, said: "This is terribly disappointing news. The road was not built that long ago so why didn't they use better, quieter road materials to start with?"

She said the noise, heard throughout the night, was getting worse as the weather deteriorated.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Peter Willows, who represents Hangleton ward, said: "I visited the area at the weekend and the noise coming down from the bypass was colossal.

"Now it looks like it will be years before the Highways Agency even looks at doing something, which is very unfair on the rate-payers living nearby."

Despite successful trials of whisper concrete in Wales and Derbyshire, it is no longer used by the Highways Agency because it proved too time-consuming to apply.

Instead, 40mm stone mastic asphalt layers are used to coat existing roads to reduce noise.