A scheme which will pump more than a million euros - almost £620,000 - into parts of Sussex, Kent and northern France has been agreed.

The Interreg 111A project was signed in France by Alain Le Vern, president of the Upper Normandy Council, and David Saunders, regional director of the Government Office for the South-East.

It will cover East Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Kent and Medway and Seine-Maritime, Somme, Nord and Pas-de-Calais in northern France.

Mr Saunders said the project, which will run until 2008, aimed to develop a great maritime region on both sides of the Channel and bring people together in projects that would help the economy and the environment.

There would be a particular focus on cultural exchange, help for local communities, economic development, tourism, help for small businesses, training and education and environmental conservation.

He said: "The focus for this programme will help remove barriers and develop greater co-operation between northern France and the South-East."

Mr Le Vern said: "We have to act together to succeed for a modern and united Europe and for the development of co-operation between our regions."

Previous Interreg projects have promoted cross-border schemes including selling French products in Sussex village shops and the Streets of Brighton Festival.

The most recent example was a tourist circuit in Dieppe and Brighton marked by a figure of a seagull.