Highway bosses were left red-faced when a brand new bus shelter had to be dug up and moved ten yards after it was put in the wrong place.

The shelter in Portland Road, Hove, was installed around the same time as other contractors completed a zebra crossing nearby.

Workmen were back in the road again this week after it was discovered pedestrians found it difficult to use the crossing when buses stopped to let passengers on and off.

On Tuesday, the bus shelter was moved ten yards away from the crossing, at a cost estimated to run into hundreds of pounds.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's shocking. I couldn't believe it when I saw them digging it up again.

"They've obviously put it in the wrong place and now have to move it a few yards down the road.

"They put the bus shelter in and built the pavement out and now they have to do it all over again. It's an awful waste of public money."

Highway bosses were forced to put their hands up to the mistake.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Council said the potential hazard was discovered during an independent safety audit carried out after construction of the zebra crossing.

He said: "The crossing and the bus shelter were put in around the same time and it is unfortunate this mistake was not spotted earlier. We are putting it right now.

"Our overriding concern is safety and, in discussion with police and the bus company, we decided to extend the bus boarding area away from the zebra crossing.

"We are also improving the drainage around the bus stop while we are at it."