An MP has renewed his calls for a busy street to be made easier for blind people to negotiate.

New Road, in the heart of Brighton's theatre district, is said to pose a major hazard to those without sight.

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper has made further calls for work to be carried out which will make it safer.

He told The Argus: "Something has to be done about it because it is causing major problems at the moment."

Guide Dogs For The Blind agree with the MP and are lending their weight to the campaign.

The charity believes "tactile strips" need to be laid along the road to give guide dogs greater guidance.

A spokesman for the charity said: "This would go some way towards helping those who are blind and partially sighted.

"The strips are relatively inexpensive but offer great benefits."

The calls follow the major redevelopment of New Road, which both Mr Lepper and Guide Dogs for the Blind, believe has worsened the situation and made it harder for blind people to negotiate.

The work saw new benches built, a new surface laid and new street furniture such as bins installed.

Studies have been carried out by the charity both before and after the redevelopment. Volunteers walked down the road without the aid of sight.

Those taking part in the tests after the redevelopment reported more problems than those prior to the work being carried out.

Part of the problem, according to both the charity and Mr Lepper, is that cars are allowed to travel part of the way down New Road.

This poses an extra danger to those without sight, they claim.

Both want Brighton and Hove City Council to carry out the work as soon as possible. Mr Lepper has written to council staff to voice his concerns.

He said of the most recent negotiation tests: "I understand that all participants in the exercise felt that the new street layout was worse than the previous layout in terms of safety.

"There were comments that participants in the exercise who would usually go out alone were afraid of using this area now."

He told the council: "I would welcome your more detailed explanation of the changes which the council now intends to make."

Reporter Miles Godfrey experienced what it is like to walk down New Road himself without the aid of sight by donning a blindfold.

Although he didn't have a walking stick, he still found it difficult to negotiate the street.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Guide Dogs for the Blind contacted us a long time ago on this and we're looking into their concerns.

"Clearly we want to make the street as safe as possible for people with visual impairment."

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