Frustrated residents of an area described as a "vibrant new urban quarter for the 21st century" have spoken of their disgust at its festering bins and antisocial behaviour problems.

Families in the New England Quarter, near Brighton Station, say the issues have been bad enough to make them consider moving out. Now they have formed a residents' association to try to resolve some of them.

One resident, Chris, who asked for his surname to be withheld, said overflowing bins had made life a misery for him, his partner and her two children.

He said: "We live directly above the area where they keep the communal bins for our block of flats and have had to live with the smell throughout the height of summer."

He said there was a dispute between the developers and refuse collectors, which meant bins were not emptied for four weeks.

He said: "There were maggots everywhere and the most disgusting stench. It was so bad we would avoid coming home. The way they have built the place meant the smell came straight through into our living room and bedroom."

The couple called environmental health officers and asked for action to stop the fumes coming into their home.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Ian Davey said he went to examine the problem last week and there was rubbish piled from floor to ceiling in the bin room, which was the size of a flat.

Coun Davey said: "The bin store has been built in a place refuse trucks can't get to and no one is willing to take responsibility for moving them."

Residents have also complained of problems with skateboarders and BMX riders congregating in the precincts and walkways of the development, also known as City Point.

Mr Davey said: "It seems as though it has been perfectly designed for them. There are plenty of ramps, handrails and open spaces."

He said it did not appear there was any malicious behaviour by skaters but they created a lot of noise close to people's homes, often until late at night.

Moat Housing, which owns the flats in Chris's block, said it was not responsible for their management.

A spokeswoman said management had recently been taken over by Peverell OM.

A city council spokeswoman said an agreement had been made before the block opened that the building managers would take the bins out to somewhere a dustcart could collect them but that agreement had not been upheld.