A seafront promenade is to receive a £250,000 boost to improve safety following a campaign by residents.

The cash will be used to upgrade street lighting and improve CCTV cameras on Hove seafront.

Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee has approved the work, which is due to start next week.

The announcement comes after The Argus reported that councillors, businesses and hundreds of residents had written to the council describing the area as a "no go" zone after dark.

They sent a dossier of complaints to the council and accused it of failing to properly maintain the area between the Meeting House Cafe and Western Esplanade.

Campaigners claimed visitors were being put at risk because the area was not properly lit and CCTV cameras did not work.

They also complained the seafront bandstand looked like a building site.

As part of the refurbishment 20 light fittings will be installed, old lighting cable will be replaced, radio communication controlling CCTV will be replaced and new fibre optic cable will be laid which will help provide clearer CCTV images.

Committee chairwoman Councillor Gill Mitchell said: "The cable under the old lights has lasted well considering it is over 70 years old.

"Good street lighting is a factor in making people feel safer, so hopefully these improvement will encourage more people to take an evening stroll by the sea."

A council spokesman said the money for seafront lights was decided at a meeting in June 2006.

He said the authority was now trying to secure Lottery funding to restore the bandstand.

He said: "They have huge demands for the money available but we hope to achieve a positive outcome later this summer.

"Estimated costs of restoring the bandstand are about £250,000. It's likely this would involve letting the lower part to a business and restoring the walkway from the prom into the upper section, which could be used for various activities, or perhaps as part of a business."

John Small, of the Regency Society, welcomed news of the seafront improvements.

He said: "We are pleased lights are being installed and hope they are a nice design."

Giuseppe Colasurdo, owner of seafront restaurant Al Fresco, said: "Anything is an improvement and is very welcome.

"The most important thing in Brighton and Hove is the seafront. It's the main attraction and there should be modern facilities."

Garry Peltzer Dunn, councillor for Wish ward and Conservative spokesman on environmental issues, said: "We welcome proper attention, and long overdue attention, to Hove seafront."