Brighton and Hove council has rejected all four proposed sites for a multi-million pound sewage works within the city boundaries.

The council's chief policy-making committee said none of the sites - 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 these sites."

Southern Water needs to build a modern sewage works after plans to redevelop the Portobello plant, at Telscombe Cliffs, were rejected after 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 and the other three are in Lewes District.

Lewes Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who represents Newhaven, described the city council's decision as "disgraceful".

He said Brighton and Hove should accept its environmental and social responsibilities.

He said: "This reflects an unacceptable attitude to its neighbours. The council can demand no respect from its neighbours when it treats them like this.

"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 that Brighton and Hove should still be taking a "not in my back yard" view.

He said: "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."

Southern Water expects says it will reveal its decision in late July.

The company has to build a treatment works to meet new EU rules on clean water. Brighton and Hove is the only place on the Sussex coast without a modern plant.