A community leader has been hailed by the Home Office as one of the UK's leading crusaders against antisocial behaviour.

Derek Peacock, of the St James's Action Group in Kemp Town, Brighton, has been invited to Westminster to collect a £1,000 cheque from ministers.

He was one of 30 winners in a national contest to find those who have done most to tackle antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhood.

The competition was launched to coincide with the new Antisocial Behaviour Bill expected to pass through Parliament this month.

Mr Peacock, of White Street, Brighton, chairs his action group's community safety team.

He was on the Brighton and Hove working party responsible for the first street drinking ban which came into force in Kemp Town in November 2001.

He also helped draw up proposals for the city-wide extension introduced last September as part of the city's community safety forum.

Mr Peacock has also campaigned for better police protection for victims of homophobic crime.

He organised the Safe Shops scheme in St James's Street, which trains traders to help victims of crime and to liaise with police and fellow shopkeepers.

Mr Peacock, 60, did not know he had been nominated until he received a letter from the Home Office announcing his award.

He said: "I was bowled over to realise the community felt sufficiently highly of me to nominate me.

"I'm proud to receive the award but it is really for the whole community for the work put in over many years to make the St James's area safer."

Mr Peacock and his partner, St James's Action Group chairman Alan Bond, will travel to Parliament for the awards ceremony on December 4.