An American has called for more police patrols at a tourist attraction after being threatened by a gang of street drinkers.

Art Walkden, 57, was rescued by a female gardener as he tried to fend off his attackers with a walking cane outside the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

He had been confronted by the 10-strong gang who had been drinking and sitting on benches in the Pavilion gardens.

Mr Walkden, from Florida, said: "Usually if you let sleeping dogs lie you are okay so I just ignored them and went on taking a few photographs.

"While adjusting my photo angles two of the men came up and stood in the way.

"Whenever I moved over they would move over, sticking their hands in front of the camera and blocking my shot.

"I told them to get lost and then they started to grab at my cameras, shouting: 'We want your cameras and we want your money!'"

The gardener saw what was happening and came to his aid, leading him in to the Pavilion.

Mr Walkden said: "The summer season is about to begin and I don't want this to happen to anyone else if at all possible.

"If it is not safe to come and visit, tourists will stay away."

Brighton and Hove City Council, which owns the Pavilion, is expected to extend a ban on street drinking across the city by the end of July.

Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis said: "This incident reinforces the council and police's stance on having a city-wide street drinking ban."