A woman who helps elderly and disabled council tenants keep their gardens tidy has been banned from using a council-run tip unless she pays.

Debbie Hudson set up Gumboots four years ago to help people who cannot manage their own gardens.

Her team of volunteers now has almost 60 clients in Hangleton and Hove, many of whom have been referred to her by Brighton and Hove City Council.

She has now been banned from using the council's recycling centre in Hove, which accepts domestic garden waste.

The mother of two has been told she is running a business because she asks for £3 per job to cover the costs of petrol for her van and gardening machinery.

Tip bosses refused her entry and said she would have to pay commercial charges of more than £20 per vanload if she wanted to continue using the site.

Debbie, 39, of Spencer Avenue, Hangleton, said: "We do the work and take the cuttings away for free. We only ask for £2 to £3 per job to cover the cost of petrol.

"Gumboots comes under the umbrella of the Hangleton and Knoll Project, which is a registered charity. We are not a business."

Hangleton councillor Mark Barnard said: "This is an outrageous piece of nit-picking by the council.

"Here is someone who has set up a group which helps others and which is a community asset recognised by the council itself.

"It is not a business and does not make a profit, yet the council has put its foot down and said it must pay commercial charges to use the tip. Unbelievable."

Jennie Christian, secretary of the North Hangleton Residents' Association, said: "Gumboots is struggling with what to do with the garden waste because the council tip will not allow them to use it without payment.

"Meanwhile, people who have been helped by Gumboots have their gardens full of hedge cuttings and grass trimmings.

"Debbie helps the council so I don't see why they can't issue her with a pass to use the tip."

A council spokeswoman said: "We'd advise Debbie Hudson to contact us to discuss this situation.

"It may be possible for her to have some access to the waste site because of her group's link to the Hangleton and Knoll Project, which has charitable status.

"We have a statutory duty to make sure household waste sites are only used by residents disposing of their own waste.

"However, we can make exceptions for proven registered charities."