Commuters will be doing themselves and Brighton a favour by working closer to home.

Businesswoman Kate Naylor, who regularly travelled to work in London until a few weeks ago, says Brighton is prospering and there are opportunities for talented people.

Since Brighton and Hove became a city, the marketing consultant has restructured the way she works.

She called on other commuters to stop and think about what they could offer their city - and what it could offer them.

She said: "Brighton is booming at the moment. We are enjoying an incredibly healthy, growing micro-economy that is becoming more and more sophisticated.

"That means that I can use my skills to Brighton's benefit, keeping it in the family, rather than taking my expertise up to London."

Like many Brighton and Hove residents, Kate has always felt a strong loyalty to the town and its culture.

She said: "I came down from the North-East to art college in 1982 and never left.

"Other people went home after college, to places like Crewe and Shoeburyness, something I could never understand.

"Brighton has always been non-stop fun, exciting, positive, embracing change and creativity rather than suspicion and intolerance."

Until recently, Kate found it a challenge to land work in Brighton as a freelance direct marketing consultant but this has changed.

"All of a sudden it looks as though, from a commercial and business perspective, the city is really waking up."

She pointed to the increase in office and factory developments and the buoyant property market as signs of an upturn in the city's fortunes which, together with city status, have improved business opportunities in Brighton and Hove.

"It also helps that I know the town and its people. A large part of direct marketing involves finding the people you know will be interested in a service or product, and telling them about it.

"Local knowledge and an insight into our city's personality and culture is absolutely invaluable.

"Very successful quality local businesses, like Zel, C-Side and Integra - all of which I admire enormously - have hung their hats on Brighton and stuck with it.

"I can give London-quality direct marketing at Brighton prices and get the satisfaction of having a hand in the successful growth of companies and businesses in my home town.

"A small return for the pleasure the town's given me over the years."

Kate appealed to other disillusioned and exhausted commuters to take a new look at the town from a career perspective.

"The opportunities are here," she said.