An innovative way of tackling graffiti is being pioneered in eyesore hotspots in Brighton and Hove.

Many local authorities spend thousands of pounds each year scrubbing off graffiti only for it to return soon afterwards.

Brighton and Hove City Council is using new ways of tackling the problem including creating physical barriers to areas which suffer graffiti, using mobile CCTV cameras to spy on environmental vandals and motion sensitive lighting which will illuminate people caught in the act of spraying on certain walls.

Cityclean, the council's in-house refuse, recycling and graffiti team, is responsible for keeping the city's streets clean.

It has drawn up a list of hotspots in the city, which are the main routes in and out of the town, to start their action plan.

The first site being tackled is a wall in Chatham Place, Brighton, which is at the junction of the route to Hove and Seven Dials near New England Road, Brighton.

The wall has constantly been daubed with to graffiti.

Work to prevent the reoccurrence includes building a trellis up the wall with climbing plants, widening the flower beds and the removal of the path near the wall to prevent access.

Tim Moore, of Cityclean, said graffiti would never disappear completely but it could be reduced with these measures.

He said: "We are taking a realistic approach and it will take a bit of time. You can't tackle graffiti by just removing it, you have to look at the whole picture. We will still be removing it but we are looking at sustainable solutions."

Cityclean is also using a new environmentally friendly chemical from Australia to remove the mess.

Other walls favoured by graffiti taggers may also have trellis and plants put on them to prevent them being used as a canvas.

Cityclean is also looking at areas such as London Road, Brighton, where vandals have been climbing above shops and daubing their artwork across walls and roofs, The Level and Lewes Road.

Mr Moore said: "We are looking at how graffiti artists access sites and we will be trying to block them off."

One site which is a regular spot for graffiti vandals is the Premier Lodge Hotel in North Street, Brighton.

The vandals gain access via the nearby HSBC bank. Cityclean is trying to get the bank to close off the access.

Cityclean is also working with other businesses to help them shut off access. They are also planning talks with BT to have a phone box moved from a site in town which is used by artists to gain access to a wall.

Brighton and Hove City Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the environment committee, said: "This is the roll out of our enhanced service.

"As well as putting extra money into graffiti removal, we are tackling the menace of graffiti from a number of angles including barriers, education and covert operations.

"There's no point in pouring more and more taxpayers'

money into just removing it when it comes back. We are taking a twin track approach."