Brighton and Hove City Council has rejected all four proposed sites for a multi-million- pound sewage works within its boundaries.

The council's chief policy-making committee said none of the sites, at Black Rock, Lower Sheepcote Valley, Upper Sheepcote Valley and Ovingdean, was acceptable.

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "We are strongly opposed to the use of any of the sites."

Southern Water urgently needs to build a modern sewage treatment works after plans to redevelop the Portobello plant at Telscombe Cliffs were rejected at a public inquiry.

The water giant published a shortlist of eight locations for the £200 million-plant earlier this year.

The sites outside Brighton and Hove are at Shoreham harbour, Peacehaven and Brookside Farm and North Quay in Newhaven.

Shoreham harbour is in Adur district while the remaining trio are all in Lewes district.

The city council, together with East Sussex County Council, also plans to build an incinerator at North Quay to burn rubbish from Brighton and Hove and East Sussex.

Newhaven's MP, Norman Baker, described the city council's decision as disgraceful and said Brighton and Hove should accept its environmental and social responsibilities.

He said: "This reflects an unacceptable attitude to its neighbours. The only place to deal with Brighton and Hove's sewage is in Brighton and Hove."

Opposition at Peacehaven and Shoreham Harbour is likely to be equally fierce.

Southern Water spokesman Geoff Loader said it was unfortunate Brighton and Hove should still be taking a "not in my back yard" view.

He said: "There is a very great need for a wastewater treatment works so Brighton does not fall behind other resorts in terms of water quality.

"One thing made clear in the public consultation was that Brighton should deal with its own waste within its boundaries.

"It is disappointing that councillors do not feel that to be so."

Alan Buck, the city council's planning projects team leader, said: "None of the sites would be acceptable based on environmental, amenity and other planning considerations."

Friday June 20, 2003