The first stage of a planned £1 million cycle lane on Worthing seafront has been given the go-ahead.

The promenade cycle route has caused controversy, many fearing a repeat of a collision on a previous seafront route involving a cyclist and an elderly woman who suffered brain damage.

Despite criticism from Tory councillors, a council scrutiny committee voted in favour of introducing the first of four sections of the cycle lane, from Brooklands, in Brighton Road, to Splash Point.

The first section is estimated to cost £310,000 but the whole cycle lane could cost Worthing council, West Sussex County Council and sustainable transport charity Sustrans more than £1 million.

At last night's meeting Tory leader Coun Steven Waight said only 170 - 0.2 per cent of Worthing's population - had responded to a public consultation exercise.

Tory councillor George Stephens said: "It concerns me we are looking at investing £300,000, £105,000 of which would come from the borough, for a tiny percentage of the town."

Chief executive Sheryl Grady said public consultations did not usually get a big response.

Committee chairman Brian McLuskie had to use his deciding vote to back the cycle route proposals.