A row erupted today over new plans for a Worthing-Lancing bypass, revealed in a leaked consultants' report.

Yesterday we revealed Government consultants Halcrow had drawn up a blueprint for a dual-carriageway with three short tunnels.

Halcrow failed to specify where the tunnels would go, fuelling speculation about the route of the bypass.

Councillor Brian Lynn, leader of the Conservatives on Worthing Borough Council, believes the Government is gearing up for a bypass over the Downs.

Tunnels would preserve the countryside and take heavy traffic away from the town, substantially reducing congestion on the A27.

Mr Lynn said: "Sometimes the build up of traffic on the A27 is horrendous. It used to be bad in the rush hour but now it seems bad for half of the day. Doing nothing isn't an option."

But countryside campaigners vowed to fight road building. Peter Mumford, of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, said: "What is frustrating is that Halcrow know alternatives to road building and ever-increasing traffic must be developed."

Plans for a Worthing-Lancing bypass have been on the agenda since the Sixties but the scheme was shelved by the Government in 1996 when a Department of Environment inspector couldn't decide on a route.

The borough council led calls for a bypass over the Downs, skirting Cissbury Ring, an Iron Age hill fort overlooking Findon.

Opponents, appalled by the proposed desecration of the Downs, fought for an improved A27, with two tunnels - one under Lancing Ring, and the other between Salvington Hill and Crockhurst Hill in Worthing - and a flyover at Offington roundabout.

This no longer appears to be an option as dozens of homes have been built along the A27.

Plans for a new Arundel bypass have also been tabled, despite past opposition from conservationists, who fear the destruction of the ancient Binsted Wood.

Worthing and Arundel are regarded as the two worst bottlenecks on the so-called Folkestone to Honiton "superhighway".

If accepted by the Government, the Halcrow study will be a blueprint for £1 billion worth of transport improvements in the South-East during the next 30 years.