People living near a university have told how their neighbourhood has become a "student ghetto".

Residents in Bevendean, Brighton, say they are being kept awake by loud music, shouting, and drunken parties.

Angry people living in The Avenue, which is opposite the University of Brighton's Lewes Road site, say the greens which run through the centre of their neighbourhood have become no-go areas.

Once a place for dog walkers and children, they say the greens now play host to drunken students, smashed vodka bottles and impromptu 3am football matches.

The problem has been exacerbated by the ballooning buy-to-let market, with up to 60 per cent of homes in the area now privately let.

One resident, who did not want to be named for fear of recriminations, said: "Each year we home owners live in fear of what the students will be like, and each year it gets worse.

"Bevendean has become a student ghetto. Night after night we are kept awake by yelling and shouting. There has also been vandalism. I've asked the students to keep quiet but I just get abuse back."

Carol Mitchell, 61, of The Avenue, said: "I have lived around this area since 1959 and the problems have got worse and worse.

"Obviously we are so close to the university that people are buying just to rent out to students. This used to be such a lovely area with a real community spirit, but not these days.

"We are not saying they are all bad, but there seems to be a lot more hassle than there used to be."

Residents say other problems include leaving bins out on the wrong days and allowing gardens to become unkempt and overgrown.

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean city councillor Jack Hazelgrove said: "I have been made aware of problems with students in the ward, often to do with leaving sacks of rubbish out on the wrong days.

"The demographics of the area have changed dramatically with people buying up houses to let out. I'm afraid it is a case of live and let live but students must respect their neighbours."

A spokeswoman for the University of Brighton said: "While we cannot confirm whether the comments made refer to students from our university, we take complaints regarding our students extremely seriously and would take appropriate disciplinary action when necessary.

"The university is working with the Bevendean Local Action Team to build positive relations between students and residents. We are currently developing neighbourly initiatives to inform students in Bevendean about matters such as rubbish collection and noise pollution."

A spokeswoman for the University of Sussex said: "The university is proud to be a part of Brighton and many of its students form strong, permanent attachments to the city and become active and productive members of the community.

"Along with the University of Brighton, we have been working with the Bevendean Local Action Team to address any concerns that residents in the Bevendean area may have about student neighbours.

"The university encourages its students to be community-minded. For example, the university arranges housing workshops for students considering a move into privately-rented accommodation, which cover practical concerns and raise awareness of rubbish collections and noise."

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