You wouldn't think the war being waged against terror would have any effect on dustmen in Brighton and Hove on their daily rounds.

But it means they will be wearing blue combat trousers because all the green ones have been bought by the Ministry of Defence.

At least one dustman, who served in the Falklands War, is happy with the decision after vowing he would never wear Army green again.

But the trousers might have been appropriate for a team which every day wages a war on rubbish.

The fact that workers have been involved in the design of the new gear symbolises the good relations between management and men since the council took over running the refuse service last month.

There's an old saying that clothes make the man and in this case they may help to make a decent dustbin collecting service too.