Councillors have been told their concerns about a national park in the South Downs are fossilised.

Pro-park campaigners said a West Sussex County Council committee ignored the facts when it backed plans for a park to be restricted to chalk hills.

The environment and public safety services committee is concerned about having a park on other land which borders the Downs.

The South Downs Campaign said the worries were "unsubstantiated and fossilised".

Chairman Robin Crane said: "It is disappointing that the committee is calling for a reduced national park restricted to the chalk hills.

"It has chosen to ignore facts and pursue myths.

"This seems to be another knee-jerk reaction to the idea of a national park."

The Countryside Agency meets in September to decide draft boundaries.