Complaints about rubbish piling up have declined ever since Brighton and Hove City Council took over collection from a private firm in October last year.

But there are still problems, as people around Grand Avenue in Hove will testify.

They have seen rubbish piling up for the best part of a month without any sign that it will be removed.

The council claims parked cars have prevented the dustmen's access to the alley in question, promising to rectify the refuse problem as soon as possible.

Brighton and Hove, with its large number of flatlet houses and restaurants, is a particularly difficult city to keep tidy as successive operators have discovered.

But it must be done for the sake of residents and visitors.

The new brooms at Hollingdean depot must be even more vigilant about making the place clean.