A row has broken out between a council and a community group over a tongue-in-cheek request for racist graffiti.

The Regency Square Area Society is fed up with having to clear up writing and pictures daubed on the area's walls because council staff will only tackle offensive messages.

Exasperated members sent out a jokey message saying they hoped graffiti yobs would make sure what they left behind was obscene or racist so Brighton and Hove City Council cleaners would be handed the job of getting rid of it.

But a council spokeswoman condemned the suggestion and said authority staff were appalled by the request.

Roger Hinton, the chairman of the residents' group, said the message in its May newsletter was a joke but added that he would like to see the council take more action on graffiti.

The newsletter read: "Make sure it's offensive. That's our message to graffiti artists.

"If you include something racist or obscene then the council will clean it off.

"Otherwise they will leave it for individual property owners to remove, or ignore, as is so often the case."

The council said it was working hard to clean graffiti in the city.