A row has broken out over plans to build an 18-hole golf course at Lancing.

Brighton-based developers Wheelwright Estates want to transform 53 hectares of fields at New Monks Farm into a pay-as-you-play course.

A further 16 hectares next to the site will be used to create 14 sports pitches for general use by the public and some open space.

But residents from the nearby Mash Barn area are furious at plans to provide access to the course from their estate.

Under the proposals traffic travelling from the west will get on to the golf course and playing fields via Grinstead Lane and Mash Barn Lane.

People using the golf course will be able to leave via the A27, but those who use the playing fields only will return the way they came.

Anyone arriving from the east will get on and off the golf course from the A27.

Planning agent for Wheelwright, Michael Cox, said it was originally planned that all traffic arriving from the west would leave via the A27 but the Highways Agency vetoed the plan.

The Agency said people should use the local road network instead.

Mary Harper, from the Mash Barn Residents' Association, said: "The whole thing is completely ridiculous.

"We have nothing against the idea of the golf course in principle and believe it will be a good thing for Lancing.

"But the idea of having traffic coming through the estate like this is going to cause a lot of problems on an already-busy road.

"Access should really be from the A27. It is a main road and well able to cope. Mash Barn Lane is narrow and there are a lot of children in the area.

"Also, as traffic can go on to the golf course and out on to the A27, there is a good chance that the route will be used as a rat-run and that is the last thing we need.

"We hope that eventually the idea of access from the estate is scrapped."

Mr Cox said the developers had carried out extensive consultation before coming up with the latest plans and believed this was the best route.

"We will have barriers at the golf course car parks so that people will not be able to drive straight through and there should not be a problem with rat-running."

A spokesman for Adur Council said most comments on the scheme were in general favour of the golf course.

He said: "The land has already been set aside for this type of use so that is not really the issue. But access from the Mash Barn area is something councillors will be looking at closely."

The application is due to be discussed by Adur Council planning committee on Monday night.