The vehicle which was waiting to transport Caroline Flint, the housing minister, away from her meeting about the proposed eco-town in Ford was pouring fumes from its exhaust for her entire time in the village.

The sight and sound of the engine of the Mercedes people carrier being kept running was at odds with Ms Flint's message that eco-towns were essential to get people to break their dependence on cars to combat climate change.

Susan West, one of the leading members of the Communities Against Ford Eco-Town protest group, said: "Having an engine running for so long is hardly eco-friendly.

"There can be no reason for that engine to be kept on for all that time. It's very inconsiderate, to be honest.

"It's normal practice at level crossing to turn off engines out of respect to the neighbourhood.

"It wasn't even that hot a day either for the air conditioning to be on to keep the driver, who was the only person inside, cool."

The vehicle ferried Ms Flint and her small group of officials to Arundel railway station from where she caught a train to London Victoria.

She had travelled to Yapton from Bordon where she had visited another proposed eco-town site.