Dozens of Brighton and Hove pupils returned for the start of the new term to find their schools looking like building sites.

Staff at two of the city's four secondary schools maintained by private firm Jarvis complained of pieces of metal sticking out of the ground, unfinished steps and dusty classrooms.

Last year, three schools had to stayed closed at the start of the academic year because of over-running building work.

Staff at Patcham High, East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) and Varndean School were furious when Jarvis failed to meet its building targets and the first day of school was delayed by up to a week.

As pupils started school again yesterday, Comart and Varndean were again unhappy with Jarvis's progress.

Derek Bown, chairman of governors at Comart, confirmed Year 7 pupils had been able to attend school but said there was still some work to be finished.

He said: "We are pleased that most of the building and refurbishment has been completed. However, the new media arts building is now nine months late."

Varndean headteacher Andy Schofield added: "There has been immense activity but there are still a lot of things we are unhappy with."

Council education director David Hawker met representatives of Jarvis today and said: "It is the clean-up afterwards which has been the problem."