Supporters of a scheme to rejuvenate a city park fear it could be jeopardised after police decided against basing officers there.

A police box was to have been a key part of a plan to breathe new life into the park at The Level, Brighton, which has been plagued by drunks, drug-taking and vandalism.

However, police have decided against converting old changing rooms into a mini-station, saying Brighton and Hove City Council only offered a short lease.

The council said police gave it no reason for abandoning the plan and could have had any length of lease they wanted.

Green councillor Keith Taylor said opening a police box, to replace the existing one at the bottom of Elm Grove, would have meant beat officers regularly visited The Level.

Other parts of the plan to tackle crime and vandalism on The Level include employing a park attendant, lowering hedges, improving lighting, repainting buildings and fencing off the children's play area.

Superintendent Graham Cox, of Brighton Police, said the short lease meant it would be too expensive to open the planned police box and the existing one at Elm Grove would stay open.