A grotty city centre street is on its way to becoming a Mediterranean plaza.

Earlier this month officials from Brighton and Hove City Council announced plans to turn Farm Yard, off Churchill Square, into a pleasant cafe quarter.

They vowed to get rid of piles of fly-tipped waste, graffiti and 15 commercial bins.

The waste has now gone and the graffiti is to be removed shortly. The owners of the bins are in talks with the council about storing them together in a disguised container.

Two weeks ago CityClean, the council's waste and recycling department, said the street would be improved by early July. Yesterday, a spokesman said: "We are determined we will clean it up within our eight-week deadline."

Mr Grints cafe, which backs on to Farm Yard, wants to put tables in the street.