A park plagued by drug users and street drinkers is to get a new lease of life thanks to a community group.

Childminder Paula Cowell and park attendant Bob Sadier have launched Friends of The Level to rejuvenate the Brighton city centre park.

There were fears it was unsafe for children after parents complained the grass was littered with needles and empty beer cans.

Mr Sadier, 30, was temporarily removed from duty when he was threatened at the beginning of July but has since been reinstated.

The group hopes to gain funding to organise activities including juggling, acrobatic sessions, ecological workshops, mural painting and free cycling proficiency tests.

Mr Sadier said: "A lot of people have ideas they want to see carried out. There was an element of antisocial behaviour but we have been working closely with the police and police community support officers and seen a real improvement.

Compared to last year there has been no serious trouble at all.

"We thought now was the time to start taking action and get a group together to make the park a nice place again."

Miss Cowell, 36, hopes the ParkSafe scheme, introduced in Stoneham Park, Hove, last year, can be replicated at The Level.

She said: "The residents and parents go round in pairs in the park and go on courses to learn how to communicate with people - that's the sort of thing we want to do here.

"A couple of times I have taken children over to The Level and there have been large groups of street drinkers. The park should be a safe environment for children and parents should not feel intimidated.

"Some have told me they are afraid to leave their buggies in case they are pinched. It's ludicrous."

Miss Cowell and Mr Sadier are urging people to come to the first Friends of The Level meeting to give their views on how the park can be improved.

Miss Cowell said: "Once we have the group established we can apply for funding and equipment, maybe get some basketball nets and something else for the skate park but we need to know what people want."

She said the group will also liaise with Brighton and Hove City Council's neighbourhood renewal and alcohol and drug teams.

The first meeting is being held at St Peters Church Hall in York Place, Brighton, at 1pm on Tuesday.