Councillors have united to call for a ban on homophobic music being sold in shops.

They voted unanimously on two motions calling for shops not to sell the music in Brighton and Hove.

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have long campaigned against the records of stars such as Elephant Man and Sizzla, which the argue incites violence against gay people.

But it is the first time Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to take a stand on the issue.

Under the Green Party motion, the council to write to the three large record stores, Virgin Megastore, HMV and MVC, asking them to look at banning "murder music".

It also demanded the council write to the city's three MPs asking that they lobby the Government for a change in the law.

Another motion proposed from two other parties called on public entertainment licence holders to note the council's opposition to playing this music in licensed venues.

Councillor Simon Williams, who tabled the Green motion at the full council meeting on Thursday, said: "This unanimous vote by all parties in the council is a significant victory in the long battle against murder and hate music."

But brothers Akushla and Tchandela, of Western Road, Brighton, said the lyrics needed to be taken in the context in which they were written.

The duo, who grew up with reggae, condemned homophobia but felt it was wrong to ban the music.

Born in Jamaica but brought up in England, Tchandela said: "I am not homophobic and in no way do I condone violence against anyone because of their sexuality.

"But in Jamaica there are more churches per square mile than any other country in the world. People live by the bible and the bible says that homosexuality is wrong.

"When you are brought up in that kind of daily environment to believe what the priest is saying or you will go to hell and damnation, you can't think anything else."

Tchandela, 40 and Akushla, 37, insisted that while the debate on homosexuality went on in Jamaica, the subject would be thrown up in reggae because it was so inextricably linked with the culture and therefore the bible.

Akushla, who runs the Caribbean Kitchen at The Hanover in Queen's Park Road, Brighton, said: "Reggae music is written for the people of Jamaica who understand Patois and therefore the irony and the context of the lyrics."

The brothers are concerned that banning these artists will set a precedent for banning other types of music.

Tchandela said: "What about music that condones violence, or is derogatory to women, such as hip hop and gangsta rap?

"Unless there is a proper debate, this could open the floodgates and then where will it end?"

Coun Williams, who launched the campaign to have homophobic music banned, said the lyrics contributed to a climate of fear and put people under threat from violence.

He said LGBT people deserved the same rights to protection as racial groups.

He said: "Murder music contributes to a climate where prejudice is seen as acceptable and this inevitably places the groups who are targeted to an increased risk of violence.

"We have a city where one in six people identify as lesbian or gay and the sale of music inciting the hanging, shooting and burning of gay people is not an acceptable part of freedom of expression.

"LGBT people, and other groups who are targeted such as women, deserve the same rights to protection as racial groups do.

"If this happened the record stores would be forced to take murder music off-sale. The Government should take note and introduce legislation as a matter of urgency."

Coun Bill Randall, who co-tabled the Green motion, said: "The Government has included proposed legislation on equalities in the recent Queen's Speech so it has the perfect opportunity to close this loophole and introduce incitement to hatred protection for LGBT people."