Every year, for the past 50 years, I have returned to Brighton and Hove, my birthplace.

For the past ten years, I have found the place is getting dirtier and dirtier.

The number of beggars seems to increase and they are getting more aggressive.

In the past, I used to feel sorry for them, gave them a few coppers and have a conversation with them.

The streets of Brighton are littered with rubbish. The shops should be fined for leaving rubbish in front of their premises for the seagulls to attack.

Churchill Square shopping mall has no food stores. Tesco seems to be opening outlets all over the city, so why not in Churchill Square mall?

The one good thing about the shopping mall this year is that it has Shopmobility, even though you can't find it.

My sister and I walked about for more than half an hour and could not locate it. The signs in the mall all lead you back to where you started.

In the end, a nice security guard took us there.

We didn't see one policeman in Brighton or Hove and we were nearly knocked down by a cyclist on the pavement.

Years ago it, was a joy to go shopping in George Street, Hove. This year, we found it full of card and charity shops and cafes.

The one good thing about the town is that the Palace Pier is still good value for money.

We had reasonably priced fish and chips in a clean restaurant.

My advice to Brighton and Hove City Council is: Get the place cleaned up.

-Maud Denny, Stafford