Parents and councillors have launched a campaign for a cycle path so children can get to school in Hassocks safely.

Increased rush-hour traffic has sparked calls for a cycle path from Hurstpierpoint to Hassocks for use by pupils at Downlands School.

Mid Sussex councillor Jack Slaughter said: "I don't want to see someone killed before something is done.

"There have been some very near misses. There are always little shunts with cars. The traffic always goes very fast along the road between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint."

Hassocks Parish Council clerk Judy King said: "Downlands School has a lot of pupils and a great many of them cycle to school.

"The catchment area is quite wide, with pupils coming from Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint.

"It seems daft when you have got so much land around and yet you can't have a such a path for children."

Mid Sussex councillor Colin Wilsdon said he had been looking at building a path for some time.

He and other campaigners are looking into a possible direct path between the two villages using grass verges.

The group plans to apply for National Lottery money to fund a survey.

Coun Wilsdon said about 200 Downlands pupils lived in Hurstpierpoint.

He said as well as boosting safety a cycle path would help make children healthier and reduce the number of cars on the school run.

He urged: "We have just got to do something and children being taken by parents to school is often unnecessary traffic. It's also unhealthy.

"We have got to do something about it otherwise Hassocks is going to become a totally horrible place to live."