Refugees who fled Sudan to live in Brighton and Hove have written a book about their experiences.

Missing The Nile, produced by the city's Sudanese community, presents the memories and stories of 14 people.

Some were political refugees from Sudan's 21-year civil war between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian south. The conflict, said to have cost the lives of 1.5 million people, ended with a peace deal last month.

Since the early Nineties thousands of Sudanese people have settled in Brighton and Hove but many remain reluctant to go into details about their reasons for leaving.

Romani Latif, 24, left the African country's capital Khartoum with his family when he was 11.

The University of Brighton graduate said he was aware of the conflict when he was growing up but did not witness at first hand the terrible violence.

He said: "For political reasons we couldn't stay. The government was spending its money on the war and we were worried about the future. If we speak too much about why we left it could affect relatives still there."

Mr Latif, who now lives in Hove, was one of five volunteers from the Sudanese community who led the book project, supported by the council's Adult and Community Learning service, Brighton Museum and QueenSpark publishers.

Nagwa Yassin, a plant agronomist, explained the shock of trying to fit in with a new culture: "I used to live in a big family, with brothers, sisters, many uncles and aunts. I miss those things in my life here in England. If I am working, I am busy all day. In Sudan, the working day is not as long as here."

Getting work is another hurdle.

Dr Wagdi Habib, who settled in the city in 1991, was an orthopaedic surgeon and senior registrar in Sudan. He now works in a newsagents.

He said: "People came here to live, not for a better life."

The writers conjure up the sights, sounds and smells of their home country and describe weddings and funerals, holy days, social life and childhood.

Brighton and Hove mayor Pat Drake said: "The book is not only for this generation but for children and grandchildren so they can discover the culture of their parents and grandparents. The book is about people who are our neighbours and has an immediate relevance for Brighton and Hove."

Missing the Nile is published in English and Arabic priced £5. Call QueenSpark books on 01273 203776.