Businesses have fired off a letter urging the Government to approve a controversial bypass.

Sussex Enterprise has written on behalf of 5,400 firms urging Transport Minister Stephen Byers to press forward with the Hastings and Bexhill bypass.

It said it would deliver more than 4,000 new jobs in an area ranked the 27th most deprived in Britain.

The group, based in Burgess Hill, said there was a critical shortage of space for expanding and incoming firms.

A decision on the £240 million scheme is expected in late July.

Environment campaigners, fearing the bypass would cut through picturesque countryside, are predicting a protest similar to Newbury if the road is given the go-ahead.

They said it would contradict with the Government's policy of opposing building on such sites.

Sussex Enterprise believes the future prosperity of the area is at stake. Mark Froud, director of policy, said: "The Sussex business community supports an integrated transport scheme in Hastings.

"A combination of the Hastings bypass, improvements to the A21 and faster rail links to London, Ashford and the Channel Tunnel will provide a desperately-needed boost to the prosperity of the area.

"A Government report concluded that the regeneration would not happen without the bypasses.

"Hastings is the only major UK seaside town to have a major road running along the seafront. The bypasses will boost tourism by reducing congestion and pollution."