A successful community, wherever it is in the world, needs a wide range of people with a wide range of skills.

Cleaners, supermarket shelf-stackers and bus drivers are just as important as doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers.

Whatever the job title, they all play an equal part in keeping a community functioning on all levels.

What is unfortunate is that not all jobs are paid equally.

Brighton and Hove is the much-vaunted place to be because of its relaxed atmosphere, its beautiful location on the coast and its proximity to London.

Demand for houses has seen prices rocket by 21 per cent in the past year.

For a normal family, living on the average wage of £13,000, the city is simply out of reach.

No one blames the rich or the retired for wanting to settle here but, unless urgent steps are taken, who will these people get to collect their rubbish, pull their pints, repair their cars or nanny their kids?

The cracks are already beginning to show. The city's old folks homes and caring services are suffering as the low paid in these jobs are being forced out.

The imbalance needs to be addressed before Brighton and Hove, known as London-by-sea, is all washed up.