Gay and lesbian campaigners staged a protest calling for a council to fly rainbow flags from its buildings.

They want Brighton and Hove City Council to fly the flags during Pride week in the summer.

The campaigners made a colourful sight outside Brighton Town Hall, one of the council buildings that has a flagpole.

The activists were lobbying councillors before they attended a planning meeting of the authority.

The council has rejected a similar request to fly the flag, which is a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Before the meeting began, a notice of motion was read out, which had been jointly signed by Liberal Democrat and Green councillors.

It read: "In recognition of the large and diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community within Brighton and Hove and to signify the growing success of Pride in the city, this council agrees the rainbow flag is flown on main council buildings during Pride Week."

Spokesman Jamie Major said: "It is an insult to the city that this has not already been done.

"Flying flags would be an insignificant expense for the council but would be highly significant for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"It would demonstrate how much the council appreciates Pride as a part of the city, which our community and the community at large enjoys."

The lobby was good natured and most councillors stopped to talk with protesters on their way into the building.

Lib Dem group leader Paul Elgood, who is gay, said: "Pride is a tremendous award-winning event, which brings in thousands of extra visitors to Brighton and Hove.

"The rainbow flag is the symbol of this event and should be flown proudly from council buildings."

Gay Green councillor Simon Williams said: "The repeated refusal to fly the flag from council buildings has caused deep resentment in the LGBT community.

"Flying this flag on a few days a year sends an important message of recognition and equality. Visibility is important and flying the flag costs virtually nothing."

The flag has not been flown before because some councillors and officials fear it would lead to a flood of requests from other groups to have flags flying from council buildings.