CREWS from across the city will work through the night to "deep clean" Brighton's streets in preparation for the easing of lockdown next week.

Cityclean staff with four jet washing units will wash bins, street furniture, lampposts and pavements along Queens Road, North Street, West Street and parts of Western Road tonight.

They will also paint out "ugly graffiti tags" on lamp posts in the area.

It is part of preparations ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday, that will see the return of non-essential shops and hospitality venues.

Gyms are scheduled to reopen along with other leisure facilities, and hairdressers will be able to reopen their doors.

Brighton and Hove City Council staff will start cleaning tonight from 9pm to 5am and will last for 12 days.

They will then be supported by morning crews from 5am to 7am.

A spokesman for the council said: "To make sure it doesn’t affect daily running of businesses, the majority of this work will take place outside of trading hours, at night or in the early hours of the morning.

"Work will start tonight with staff carrying out the cleaning from 9pm to 5am with four jet washing units and then supported by morning crews from 5am to 7am, with the daily recycling and refuse collections continuing as normal.

"Our enforcement officers will also be out and about, helping to keep Brighton and Hove tidy and handing out fines if needed, as we are expecting the city to be busy as businesses start to reopen after an extended period of being closed during lockdown."

To afford the street cleaning, a proposal was agreed at the policy and resources urgency sub-committee last week for extra funding of £120,000.

Enforcement officers will also patrol the street and give out £150 on the spot fines for anyone caught littering.