A councillor whose plans to send a delegation to China have been vetoed is urging his colleagues to think again.

Worthing councillor Tim Dice wants the authority to attend an international floral contest called Nations in Bloom.

But his plans to send a delegation to China, where the contest will be judged, has been thrown out by the borough council's executive.

Now Councillor Dice, who is in charge of leisure and culture, is hoping other members of the council will use their powers to call in the decision for another debate.

He said: "This would not be a jolly, although obviously there would be a social side to it. I believe it would be a chance to put Worthing on the world stage by making a presentation to the judges as well as picking up ideas from other countries."

The competition is taking place in Shenzhen from November 29 to December 3. It is an extension of competitions such as Britain in Bloom and South East of England in Bloom, in which Worthing came second in the large town category behind Horsham.

Coun Dice said the visit would promote Worthing and its parks and gardens strategy, which includes a 20-year Green The Borough plan.

He said: "The delegation would be a small one, mainly of officers and the cost would be between £6,000-8,000.

"I have identified savings in my budget which could be used to cover the trip so new money would not be needed.

"I'm sure other towns in West Sussex which had the same opportunity would go out and promote themselves."

Council leader Brian Lynn said the executive had not seen the trip as a "civic junket."

He added: "On one hand it could be good publicity for the town, depending on how successful Worthing is, and we have done exceedingly well to get to the finals.

"But on balance the executive decided not to do it, mainly on cost grounds."

Under the council's new executive system other members of the council now have five days in which to decide whether to challenge the decision not to send the delegation.