Visitors to Brighton Beach are being called on to help ease pressure on rubbish collectors by clearing up after themselves.

Brighton and Hove City Council says it has already assigned extra staff to cope with a deluge of litter following unprecedented numbers of people heading for the beach.

It says bins are being regularly emptied to make it easier for people to get rid of their own debris.

But residents say despite these efforts there has been a massive increase in litter, including glass and drinks cans, and sunbathers are having to fight for a spot on the beach amid the rubbish.

James Willing, of Chichester Terrace, Kemp Town, called the council to complain about the state of the beach near his home after he almost cut his foot on glass on Tuesday.

Mr Willing said he was surrounded by broken bottles and evidence of barbecues. He does not believe the council is working hard enough.

Mr Willing said: "I almost walked on a broken piece of glass. The whole beach is covered in litter. It has been there since the weekend. I was down here last week and there was litter then but nothing like this.

"I am concerned about safety and picking up some sort of virus."

A resident from Little Preston Street, Brighton, who did not want to be named, said she was disgusted to see not only litter on the beach near her home but in the children's paddling pool near the West Pier. She said litter in the streets had also increased.

She said: "You have got to keep dodging on and off the pavement. Little Preston Street was disgusting."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said "We have had an unprecedented rise in the number of visitors to our seafront in a very short space of time. The council put four extra people on the beach on Tuesday.

"All the areas mentioned are cleansed regularly but we need the help of the public on this one. We urge people enjoying a day out to take responsibility for their own litter.

"Council staff have been regularly emptying litter bins to make it easier for people to tidy away their debris. In the city centre we will be trying out new equipment to improve cleansing. We are hoping to have this in place in time for the August bank holiday.

"In extreme cases the council has the power to take enforcement action."

Last year The Argus launched its Keep Glass Off The Beach campaign after revellers left behind thousands of smashed bottles and glasses following Fatboy Slim's Beach Boutique II party.

Safety officers warned the shards could remain among the pebbles for years to come but the sharp edges of the remaining glass have since been smoothed down by the sea.

The Argus reported on Monday how reporter Paul Holden picked up 50 bottles from Worthing beach in just five minutes.