The South Downs stretch from East Sussex to Hampshire Click here to see a map of the proposed national park

Plans to turn the South Downs into a national park could become a "nightmare" for people living nearby, a council oppposed to the proposal has warned.

East Sussex County Council is angry that creating the park could attract more visitors to the area but there would be no extra funding to cope with the influx.

It is also concerned planning restrictions for residents would be made even more complex if the status was granted.

Councillor Tony Reid, lead member for transport and the environment, said: "On the surface the idea of a national park sounds very attractive but it is not an emotional football to be played with for 90 minutes and put away at full time.

"We would have to live with this authority and residents both inside and outside the park could get a raw deal."

I think it might come home to the people of Lewes when they suddenly find the streets clogged up with even more traffic and minor applications for home improvements, even satellite dishes, take months to decide Tony Reid, East Sussex County Council

A multi-million pound public inquiry into the proposal to give the South Downs national park status began in November.

East Sussex County Council is to start giving evidence against the plans on 9 December.

The authority has said it is making a stand against the scheme because it represents people living both inside and outside the park, which would stretch from Hampshire to Eastbourne, and includes the town of Lewes within its boundaries.

Mr Reid said: "I think it might come home to the people of Lewes when they suddenly find the streets clogged up with even more traffic and minor applications for home improvements, even satellite dishes, take months to decide."

An estimated 4,000 planning applications which would go to local councils would go before a National Park Authority if status was granted, the council said.

The inquiry, in Worthing, West Sussex, could last up to a year, costing the tax payer at least �800 a day.

SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL 73 miles of chalk hills extend across more than 400,000 acres Public inquiry into park proposal could take up to a year