Harbour users battling against a major development have been granted leave for two judicial reviews.

The High Court decision will delay the development project at Littlehampton Harbour by several months and could jeopardise it.

Mr Justice Sullivan granted leave for two applications, one from fisherman Clive Mills and one from harbour businessman Tony Powell.

They will be heard by the High Court in June.

Mr Mills, 41, lost a separate High Court case for the right to continue fishing out of the harbour earlier this year.

He had refused to comply with an order by Arun District Council to remove his boat from the quay.

Today's decision comes after a judge initially dismissed the two judicial review applications in April.

Mr Mills and Mr Powell appealed against that ruling and the hearing is now set to go ahead.

The two men have been supported by the Federation for Small Businesses, which has provided them with financial and legal help.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Arun and Chichester branch said: "Too many harbours and ports are being turned into housing estates in the name of regeneration and with the help of funds from the South-East England Development Agency."

The harbour development would include a youth hostel, a heritage centre and 80 homes.