Refuse collectors and street cleaners will meet today to try to resolve the latest dispute to hit the service.

Union leaders have hinted at renewed industrial action in a disagreement about the number of cleaners deployed on some shifts in central Brighton and Hove.

GMB union organiser Mark Turner said he would recommend members accepted a deal brokered at a meeting with Brighton and Hove City Council officials yesterday.

He said managers were not sticking to an agreement on the size of the street-cleaning force, drawn up after the council took the contract back in-house in 2001.

Mr Turner suggested 25 or 26 people should be deployed on afternoon shifts but managers did not have enough staff to cover for sickness and holidays.

"We believe we are six short, while the management's position is all the positions are filled. At the moment we are in discussion with the authority but it looks like it will be resolved."

A council spokeswoman said: "The council and the GMB continue to discuss any workforce issues in a constructive way."

Tuesday June 10, 2003