Police and Brighton and Hove City Council were today blasted for failing to clear travellers' sites.

City MP David Lepper wants to take a council/police delegation to Westminster to seek solutions.

His attack follows complaints from councillors and Coldean residents who have two camps on their estate.

Mr Lepper said one site, opposite the Hikers Rest pub in Coldean Lane, had not been designated a high-profile site and as such could not be cleared under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act which empowers police to evict travellers quickly.

The secondary method requires court eviction orders which take much longer.

He said: "I have told the council I disagree with their assessment. They are wrong because this site is a popular spot for dog walkers and it is opposite a residential area."

The second site on 39 Acre Field is also a popular area for walkers and that too should be designated a high-profile site, he said.

Mr Lepper said he was concerned council officials had also designated camps in Crowhurst Road and Patcham Court Farm as not high profile and claimed it was done without consultation with local ward councillors.

Mr Lepper said he offered Sussex Police the chance to meet ministers in London last year to discuss additional powers but Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse replied this was not necessary.

Chief Inspector Kul Verma said Brighton police recently appointed a travellers' liaison officer to "co-ordinate action and give teeth to Section 61", adding: "Please give us a chance to offer some improvements."

He welcomed Mr Lepper's offer and "any initiative to forge better working relationships".

A city council spokeswoman said the council was following a policy on travellers agreed by police and councillors and she insisted ward councillors were advised on decisions taken about camps.