Rubbish strewn along a busy dual carriageway is so bad it could cause a fatal accident, a councillor has warned.

Phillip Coote said he feared for the safety of motorists and passengers using the A27 between Brighton and Lancing.

Coun Coote, deputy cabinet member for highways and transport at West Sussex County Council, said: "There is so much rubbish on the verges it's appalling.

"It would only take one sheet of polythene to land on someone's windscreen and obliterate their vision to cause a very serious if not fatal accident."

Coun Coote has been pressing the Highways Agency for about nine months to accept responsibility for rubbish along the trunk road.

He said: "It may not be their job to clear it up but the road is their responsibility and I don't think they are doing their job properly."

He said agency patrol cars should report litter to the relevant district council and order them to clear it up.

He said: "We are trying to promote this area as a tourist spot but all tourists see as they arrive is rubbish.

"You don't get that in France or Germany and we need to be competitive."

When The Argus drove along the A27 westbound between Hollingbury and Lancing yesterday we found debris strewn everywhere.

The roadside was littered with plastic bags, crisp packets, drinks cups, discarded cardboard boxes and even the odd car bumper.

A layby used by hauliers in the eastbound lane just after the Southwick Tunnel was particularly bad. A solitary dustbin was full to the brim and dozens of wrappers and plastic bags were scattered in the grass.

A spokesman from the Highways Agency confirmed it ran the A27 but did not have responsibility for removing rubbish from trunk roads.

He said: "We do have to clear litter from motorways but it's the district councils' responsibility for trunk roads such as the A27."

Brighton and Hove City Council is responsible for clearing rubbish from the A27 between Brighton and Lancing.

A spokesman said: "Our street cleansing team is responsible for clearing the verges of the A27 within the city.

"We normally only do it twice a year because it's an expensive operation. We have to do it at night to minimise inconvenience to motorists and health and safety regulations require us to hire special vehicles with flashing arrow signs to achieve the temporary rolling lane closures required.

"Unfortunately a lorry shed its load up near Hollingbury just after the last clean-up late last year. Budget pressures meant we weren't able to arrange an immediate response but we've arranged to go out next week to do another clear-up.

"We're aware it's a bit of a mess up there and we'd like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience caused.