A group of neighbours are taking their fight for cleaner streets to the courts.

Traders and residents plan to gather enough evidence of rubbish being left to rot at the roadside to sue Brighton and Hove City Council for negligence.

They are forming an action group and urging other people from across the city to join their fight for a better rubbish collection service.

Organiser Mamoud Bartoli, who owns Bartoli's Restaurant in Lewes Road, Brighton, said if everyone joined together, their complaints would have more weight.

He said: "It is about giving the council a kick up the backside.

"Isn't it about time for the public to take proper action to deal with a bunch of ineffective managers in charge of our rubbish collection service?

"In the year 2003 do we deserve to come out of our houses and be confronted by sacks of rubbish piled up everywhere? There is evidence some of the sacks stay on the streets for days on end."

Mr Bartoli claimed the council's current policy of a once-a-week rubbish pick-up was not adequate and the service did not justify this year's large increase in council tax bills.

He said: "In countries like Spain, they do collections every day. Why can't it be done here? We have had an increase in council tax and then the takeover of the waste collection service by the council.

"How much longer do we have to put up with a service which is well below standard?"

The action group already comprises of about 60 residents.

Mr Bartoli has also contacted a law firm which believed the group could have a case if the matter went to court.

He said: "I have spoken to some solicitors who have told me there are grounds for a civil action but we have to have evidence. The only way we can do that is if sufficient people come forward and say it is a problem.

"I will collect all the evidence and will even go to places and take photographs or film with a video camera.

"Either the council will get their act together or it will go to court."

A council spokesman admitted to "possible" missed collections in the Lewes Road but said there were other problems with refuse collection in the area.

He said: "We are in regular contact with a resident who has been complaining in Lewes Road and an enforcement officer has visited to assess the situation.

"There are a combination of problems - possible occasional missed collections by us, residents putting out rubbish on the wrong day and traders with inadequate waste arrangements. We are addressing these."

Anyone interested in joining the action group should write to Mr Bartoli at Bartoli's Restaurant, 47 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3HW, or call him on 01273 625444.