A councillor has called for action on a flytipping hotspot she claims has been used as a dumping ground for years.

Old sofas, clothes and children’s toys are among the waste that has been dumped on open ground in Downland Drive, Hove, near to the Toads Hole Valley site.

Dawn Barnett, Conservative councillor for Hangleton and Knoll, and council candidate Nick Lewry are calling on the council to take action to clear up the site.

Coun Barnett said: “The whole of the area is an absolute disgrace. It hasn’t been cleared away for years.

“I am calling on the council to clear up this area and get rid of all this rubbish so people can take some pride in the area.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “Our environmental protection team had not previously been made aware of the fly-tipping on Downland Drive.

“The land it has occurred on is privately owned.

“Now that we are aware of the situation we are endeavouring to make contact with the landowners with a view to them getting the fly-tipping removed.”