A council leader had accused an MP of "fawning" to ministers following the shock decision to scrap plans for a series of new roads.

Coun Peter Jones, Tory leader of East Sussex County Council, criticised Lewes MP Norman Baker for celebrating the Government move.

He said: "His fawning congratulation of ministers in the House of Commons on Wednesday confirms that when it comes to better communications for Sussex, Norman Baker is against the broader public interest.

"Failure to improve east to west coastal road and rail links will deal a severe blow to the regeneration hopes of many communities.

"Norman Baker's quirky anti-motorist attitudes lessen the chances of coastal towns like Newhaven to revive and create new jobs and wealth for their people.

"How does he expect the harbour trade to grow or businesses to invest if they can't shift goods in and out or people can't reach the town easily? "

Mr Baker today refuted the claims made by Coun Jones.

He said: "The proposals would have been highly environmentally destructive for my constituency."

Mr Baker denied claims that Newhaven would be unable to survive without changes to roads.

He said: "I'm an individual who sticks up for what I believe in and if that's quirky, then I'm quirky.

"Peter Jones is behaving like a spoilt child because he's lost the argument."