A scrap metal mountain a quarter of a mile long could dominate homes with views over a busy port.

People living at Shoreham Beach have branded the towering scrap heap an eyesore and vowed to fight plans to extend it.

Grandmother Margaret Bedding said: "It really is an eyesore and we will protest against any plans to make it bigger."

Mrs Bedding, has lived in Harbour Way, Shoreham Beach, since her house was built 30 years ago.

She said: "If it gets any bigger we will not be able to see the South Downs to the north of Shoreham any more.

"It is all very well people saying scrap is valuable business but they don't have to live with it opposite their homes."

Neighbour Margaret Steer said: "It is ugly and we already have to put up with noise from the site.

"We have tried for years to get something done about it so we definitely do not want to see it get any bigger."

Their fight is likely to be backed by Adur District Council whose officers are against expansion of the site at Kingston Wharf, Shoreham Harbour.

The council has to be consulted as the local planning authority but the final decision on whether the expansion should go ahead lies with West Sussex County Council.

Piles of scrap metal, including old cars, already tower over the main A259 coast road which runs alongside the port.

They are collected there to await crushing and export by European metal recycling specialist EMR.

The company has asked West Sussex for permission to increase the size of its operation at Shoreham making it half as big again.

Councillors on Adur's planning committee are being recommended to "oppose this substantial expansion in the strongest possible terms" when they meet on Monday.

They will be told the area is designated for residential, leisure and light industrial use under the Shoreham Maritime strategy for that part of the harbour.

Planning officers believe the development would cause "significant environmental harm" for new homes being built opposite on the Shoreham Beach side of the harbour.

A report to the planning committee states: "Shoreham Beach Residents' Association says this proposal would result in one quarter of a mile of scrap metal dominating the riverside.

"In the past the scrap has regularly been loaded on to ships but this has not happened lately, hence the greater quantity.

"A resident of Anchor Close is concerned it appears to be contrary to the West Sussex local waste plan.

"That requires compatibility with existing uses and the proposal would occupy almost the whole frontage opposite new residential development.

"It would continue to plague residents with excessive noise, dust, occasional smell from engine oil and its obvious visual impact."

EMR has told Adur it wants to use the site as an overflow for storing scrap metal before it is processed and exported.

In its application it says the amount of scrap being delivered varies at between 60 and 150 vehicles a day.

The company states its plans would allow more efficient use of the site and give more space for trucks and vans queueing at the weighbridge.

Nobody was available for comment at the company's headquarters in Warrington, Cheshire, yesterday.