Brighton and Hove becomes the first city in England and Wales to introduce a city-wide street-drinking ban, but it's a move that isn't going down well with some.

Joseph spent 20 years serving Queen and country. He was a sniper in the Welsh Guards and saw active service in some of the world's troublespots.

Last night he slept in the doorway of a shop in Kemp Town, Brighton.

The reason for this change in circumstances is simple - alcohol.

He was shot in the knee while on duty, pensioned off and lost his way in life.

Joseph, 37, said: "I started drinking. I didn't want my family to see how I had messed up so I got on a train and came to Brighton. I was running away from myself."

Joseph is one of the scores of drinkers who have adopted Norfolk Square as their hangout.

From today, anyone found drinking in the street will be asked to hand over their alcohol. If they will refuse, they will be arrested and face a fine of up to £500.

The scheme has already been operating in St James's Street, Kemp Town, and is now being extended.

The street drinkers know the change is coming and are preparing to handle it in their own way.

Joseph said: "None of us want to be living on the street. We are alcoholics - homeless alcoholics.

"If they want to lock us up they will but we will just come back out and do it again.

"What else can we do?

"We don't have anywhere to go. They can fine us £500 but what's the point when we don't have any money? Banning street drinking isn't going to clear up the problem.

"I know I can survive on the streets - I was trained to do it - but I'm not sure about the others."

Another of the square's regulars is 26-year-old "Jungle" Jim. He is offended they are known as one of the city's "lager louts".

He said: "A lot of us have university degrees or are ex-Service people but we are treated like scum.

"I want to change - I'm on a list for de-tox - but it's not always that simple.

"I personally will hand over my drink over rather than get locked up. I think most people will just be a little more subtle about it and split into smaller groups."

"Stretch", originally from Scotland, is desperate to stop drinking. He says without assistance he will be dead in two years.

He said: "I have lost my wife, my son, my home and my business. Now I have pancreatitis. I want to get into rehab but the council says there is no risk to my health. I don't want to be on the streets but where else is there to go?"

The men look out for each other and regard themselves almost as a family.

All the drinkers agree the Equinox centre in the Old Steine is a life-saver. It offers a place to drink and medical help.

In the last few weeks police have stopped at the square regularly to take details of those drinking. The drinkers refer to the calls as "getting a parking ticket".

Joseph said: "It isn't pleasant for us being out here either. People see me sitting in a doorway and say 'Get a job or I will slash your face'. All I am doing is having a rest.

"Some people see us and complain about us being rowdy or maybe begging. But people do what they have to do to survive."

Drunkenness, abuse, obscenities, fights and blaring music have become the trademark of Norfolk Square.

Residents and businesses have been forced to live with the blight for decades.

Although feelings run high, almost all those I spoke to were too worried about their safety to be identified.

One couple who have run a business in the square for 21 years are thinking of moving.

The man said: "This is the worst year ever. The number of drunks has increased vastly - one day I counted 32.

"They are noisy, abusive, their language is appalling and drifts in through our windows and they urinate in the flower beds."

His wife said: "Over the years the character of the drunk has changed. We used to have one or two old men. Now we have lots of young people and most of them come from outside the area. Another worrying development is that this year some bring small children with them."

Diana Sayers, landlady of the Robin Hood pub in Little Western Street, said: "It is not a good advertisement for the city.

"Norfolk Square should be an inviting route down to the sea but having all these drinkers there stops tourists coming this way."

Sgt Richard Siggs, of Sussex Police, said he was confident the ban would make a difference but only in the long term with all the agencies involved working together.