A decision on awarding a waste contract, already more than a year behind schedule, has been delayed because councils need more time.

Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council were expected to select the successful bidder from a shortlist of two on Monday.

Two companies, Onyx Aurora and Viridor-Tiru, were invited to tender for the £1 billion private finance initiative deal last summer.

The successful bidder will be responsible for waste disposal in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex for the next 20 years.

The plans include building two controversial waste burning incinerators earmarked for North Quay, Newhaven, and Mountfield Mine, near Robertsbridge.

A county council spokeswoman said officials at both authorities wanted more time to evaluate the two bids before making a recommendation to councillors.

She said: "The meeting is being delayed for a few weeks to enable members to make a fully-informed decision and be fully briefed on the detail of the tenders."

A public inquiry into the waste plans, which drew more than 13,000 objections during the main consultation, is scheduled to start early next year.