Householders have voted to reject plastic bag collections as an alternative to the hated wheelie bins.

Bags had been suggested as an alternative to dealing with rubbish in Preston Park, Brighton, after hundreds of residents complained about the introduction of wheelie bins to the area.

But residents say the way Brighton and Hove City Council has handled the proposals has led to a "lack of trust" in the trial.

Professor James Barlow, of Havelock Road, Brighton, a spokesman for Pavements For People, said: "The council gave no guarantees about extending the trial if it proved successful.

"There was considerable anger at the way the council and Cityclean changed and diluted the proposals agreed earlier in the summer.

"They refused to look at bird-proof bags and these are the same old plastic bags that will inevitably be spilled."

Brighton and Hove City Council's introduction of wheelie bins across the Preston Park area in March led to a public backlash.

Graham Hale, 51, of Beaconsfield Villas, hung a banner from his window with the slogan "Brighton Not Bintown" when the wheelies were introduced.

Mr Hale, who is no longer working with Pavements for People, said: "I wasn't going to do the council's job for them if they can't. It's obvious there are lots of alternatives they haven't thought of."

They said the bins would spoil the look of the streets in the conservation area, block pavements and attract vandals.

They formed Pavements for People and held a public meeting in April which attracted more than 400 people. They have now set up a steering group and plan to hold a second public meeting later this year.

The idea for a plastic bag trial came out of discussions between the group and council officers.

Wheelie bins were rolled out in a bid to raise recycling rates in the city and any alternative must meet the same criteria. Residents would be allowed to put out a maximum of two bags a week.

Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council's environment committee, said: "I am very disappointed. The steer from them was that this idea was an acceptable one to work up.

"I am totally clear that the council has honoured the commitments I made to the area."

She said the bags had only been offered to households with nowhere to store bins except on the pavement but that the council had "bent over backwards" to accommodate other residents who wanted them.

The bags were made of the toughest biodegradable plastic and the trial would test their strength against gulls and sharp objects.

Coun Mitchell said if Preston Park residents would not take them they could be trialled elsewhere and would not go to waste.

Pavements for People had been shown samples of the toughened sacks before they were ordered.

Coun Mitchell said: "I am disappointed that these bags have now been rejected this late in the day."