Youths who play football on seafront lawns are annoying residents.

Their complaints have been taken up by Liberal Democrat councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Large groups play football on the Brunswick Lawns in Hove most evenings during the summer and at weekends all the year round.

Councillor Paul Elgood said: "We have tried for almost five years to get the council to listen to the views of residents on this issue.

"They object to their open spaces being taken over weekend after weekend by people who play full games of football while families try to have picnics.

"The studs from the players' boots have ruined the lawns.

"No one minds small kickabouts and even the odd match but what we are talking about here is an organised football league. They come from Crawley to play.

"The council has failed to tackle this and a range of seafront issues including cycling on the promenade, seafront barbecues and other anti-social behaviour problems.

"We have urged the council to act but it has just sat back and done nothing.

"We are hoping that a promised review of the by-laws will see long overdue progress."

A council spokesman said: "We've tried talking to football teams and reseeding the grass.

"Some lawns are still tatty from the very dry summer.

"It's a matter we keep under review but football is unlikely to be legally banned.

"That would raise the prospect of police officers arresting people for playing the national game in a public park.

"Some might see that as rather draconian and not particularly high priority."