RESTAURANT owners in a bustling square at the heart of Brighton's cafe culture have been told to remove tables and chairs from outside their premises.

The move is a massive blow to restaurateurs in East Street, who say they will lose thousands of pounds over the Easter weekend. The piazza, along with The Lanes, the Pavilion and the seafront, attracts thousands of tourists every year and is seen as a vital part of the city's economy.

For the past 15 years three restaurants in East Street have paid the council a licence fee to use a plot of land outside their premises to create an outdoor eating area, giving the city a European cafe-style feel.

When their licences expired about eight weeks ago, the businesses applied to renew them. But the owners of Al Forno, The House and English's were told a complaint about the tables had been lodged on behalf of the freeholder of a vacant property nearby which meant the council was unable to automatically renew the licences.

As there was an objection, the applications have to go through the formal process of being presented to a council committee with the next meeting not being held until after the bank holiday weekend.

It means the traders will be unable to take advantage of the busy period. If they go against the council's orders they could be prosecuted and even taken to court.

The three restaurateurs now say the council should have moved more speedily to resolve the situation before the Easter break.

Romano Taverna has owned pizza restaurant Al Forno for 15 years. Every year he puts out around 20 tables which give his business seating for about 70 additional customers to the 70 he can cater for inside.

Mr Taverna said: "We are in a state of shock that after a very lean six months when we continued to employ our staff at great loss, the licence should be withdrawn on such a short notice, just before Easter and at the start of the vital summer season. I don't think we deserve to be treated so badly."

The House, next to Al Forno, has been told to remove 20 tables until the licence row is resolved. The restaurant has been jointly owned by Omar Kamala and his wife Nicola for four years. They have also lost seating for around 70 customers which doubles their capacity.

Mr Kamala said: "We only have about six weeks of sunny weather a year with the tables outside."

The third business affected is seafood restaurant English's. Owner Simon Leigh-Jones has lost about ten outside tables.

He said: "It's one of the main areas for visitors and it looks fabulous." He added: "It's a shame this has happened."

The problem arose after the council received an objection from agents on behalf of the freeholders of a vacant shop, once the Kookai women's clothes shop.

It is believed the freeholder was concerned that the tables obscured the front of the shop making it difficult to let.

Mr Taverna says he pays up to £1,000 a year for his licence. He added: "We don't want to push it with the council. All we want is to create a corner of Rome or Paris in Brighton."

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "The council is bound by law to consider whether or not the objection is valid."

If the traders break the law they could face prosecution.