Residents say their quality of life is being undermined by mountains of rubbish, vandalism and graffiti.

Rubbish left uncollected in the Lewes Road area of Brighton has angered residents who say it is the latest example of how their area is being neglected.

Many are demanding more money is invested in the area, which they say is already a crime hot spot.

They feel Brighton and Hove City Council is not doing enough to reduce levels of crime.

A petition with more than 2,000 signatures demanding action was handed to the council two years ago.

Father-of-one Tony Harrop, 45, of St Paul's Street, said: "I really believe they need to invest money in this area.

"Not enough is being done to protect residents and we feel we are being forgotten. We pay our taxes and something should be done. We handed the petition in two years ago but nothing gets done.

"This part of Brighton is being neglected and is in rapid decline. We have so much trouble with graffiti, vandalism and drunks and there is a problem with rubbish."

Rik Child, ward councillor for St Peter's said: "It is a very great worry for a lot of residents. It is becoming a very, very poor area. It is full of deprivation and depression and this leads to other things."

Operation Robust was launched by police about a month ago to round up drug dealers, burglars, car criminals and troublemakers around The Level, London Road, Lewes Road, the A270, Hanover, Queen's Park and the Bates Estate.

Inspector Rob Carden of Sussex Police said so far the initiative was achieving its goals. He said: "Forty per cent of all the police division's crime was centred on these areas.

"Since we have started Robust this has gone right down. In the short term it has been a real winner.

"We do need to look at long-term prevention though and we will be asking the council for help with this."

A spokesman for the council said: "It is not the city's most beautiful street.

"Most of the tattiest bits look that way because of unkempt private properties. We have no control over these.

"We have responded to requests to clear up rubbish and will do so again if more has appeared. We do not clean graffiti off private property, in the same way we do not repair broken windows in private property.

"No doubt, over time, it will improve due to the increasing value of city properties."