A centre containing revolving dry ski slope machines proposed for a location in West Sussex has been given the go-ahead to the surprise of its backers.

Planning staff at the local Horsham District Council had recommended that the application, from a start-up company called Moving Mountains, be refused, but council members of the planning committee voted in favour of the plan, mostly due to promised job creation at the centre.

Moving Mountains are reported to have been looking for a suitable location for their facility for three years and will now commence operations in the Mackley Industrial Estate, Henfield Road in Small Dole.

Moving Mountains say that the centre will be unique in the area and artists impressions show it operating two moving ski slope machines.

The company says it plans to open two more centres in the region over the next five years.

There are currently three similar centres operating this type of machine in the UK: Chel-Ski and Skieasy in London and Skizone in Basingstoke.