Union representatives say concerns were raised two years ago about the safety of a street cleaning vehicle involved in an accident which killed a pedestrian.

Stephane Aineto, 28, of Upper Lewes Road, Brighton, died after a collision early on Sunday with a vehicle run by waste contractor Sita.

It is believed he was heading towards a taxi rank after spending an evening in a night club when the collision happened in East Street, Brighton.

Tony Wilson, GMB union health and safety representative at Sita, said he had raised concerns about the design of the vehicle involved in the collision in 1999.

He said he had asked for a crash barrier to be installed along the side of the vehicle to stop pedestrians falling underneath.

He said: "It was recommended there was a crash barrier along the side because the distance between the front and back wheels was too big. We were informed this was not in the HGV requirement as it was under seven-and-a-half tonnes.

"We said at the time there would be an accident sooner or later. The crash barrier would have worked on the same principle as a barrier on a heavy goods vehicle. It is a light, outer metal bar which stops anyone falling underneath."

GMB official Gary Smith said: "Employers have to carry out a risk assessment and they should go by that, not legal minimums. If this issue was flagged up in 1999, there has to be a question why it was never done."

Mr Smith said the experienced driver involved in the fatal collision was "devastated".

A spokeswoman for Sita - which has been sacked by the city council because of poor performance and bad industrial relations - denied the company had been warned about the vehicle in 1999.

She said: "We were unaware any suggestion of that sort had been made. We are in the process of carrying out our internal investigation into the cause of the accident.

"Health and safety is a major issue for Sita. We have had certain things happen in the past, so it's a major issue for the company."

Brighton and Hove City Council said police were treating the death as an accident and no blame was being attached to the crew manning the refuse vehicle.

A spokeswoman said: "We are not carrying out a health and safety investigation. It is being treated by the police as a road traffic accident. We are however, expecting a full report from Sita."