Residents fear they are sinking in a sea of filth as rubbish and food lies strewn across their street.

Householders are exasperated after repeatedly asking Brighton and Hove City Council to clear the waste from their road.

People living in Warmdene Close, Patcham, say there are soiled nappies, rotting food and black bags piled up on the street.

Mother-of-two Veena Kumari Bhola, who has lived in the street for two years, said: "I find it an abomination of modern living.

"It's a breach of our basic human rights.

"Our children are at risk of medieval diseases. What do we pay our council tax for?

"There are about 30 pooey nappies and broken pushchairs in the street. We had no problem before they introduced the wheelie bins into the area."

Miss Kumari Bhola said the dustmen refuse to take any black bags which are left next to the wheelie bins, which means some are left torn open on the street for weeks.

The wheelie bins and black sacks in Warmdene Close have not been collected for more than two weeks and are beginning to smell after the recent heatwave.

Mother-of-two Jane Dobson, 27, who lives in the road, said: "They say they will move it every time I ring them but they rarely send anyone out.

"This last lot has been here for three weeks."

Mrs Dobson said part of the problem was the addition of a traffic island at the entrance to the road, which may have made access more difficult.

She said: "Our rubbish day is supposed to be a Tuesday but they don't come any more."

City councillor Brian Pidgeon visited the street.

He said: "It's a disgrace. It's really grim round here and they want a reduction in their council tax.

"I think the assistant director and the director of the environment should come and look at it. They should be here sorting this out."

A city council spokesman said: "Cityclean refuse vehicles have had access problems up Warmdene Close and this is what, unfortunately, caused the mess.

"Cityclean has already sent a team to clear up and are working with the transport department to come up with a solution.

"In the meantime they will send a smaller vehicle to collect the refuse to avoid this happening in the future."