A new tactic is being deployed in the game of "bin chess" taking place in the city centre.

Unpopular new communal bins are now being moved in front of student houses – because they are seen as the least likely to be bothered by them.

The latest twist in the saga of the six foot skips, which are being introduced across Brighton and Hove, has come as more residents say they have been affected by what has been dubbed by some as a "game of chess".

People unhappy at having the smell and clanging lids of the bins close to their homes have been taking matters into their own hands by shifting them elsewhere and prompting issues for others who then do the same.

The problem was first reported in North Laine, where residents said it was dividing a close-knit community, but has now been occurring elsewhere.

Last week pensioner Barbara Heath, from Kensington Place, Brighton, said her life had been made a misery by one of the bins being pushed outside her home, saying she was not strong enough to move it away again.

She said: "It's right outside my window, I can't see anything anymore."

That bin has now been moved to a parking bay outside a house occupied by students. Residents say they were told by Brighton and Hove City Council workers the move had been made deliberately because it was the least problematic location.

One, who asked not to be named, said: "I think the idea was that students were less likely to be upset by it than others."

Clifton Hill, the area between Dyke Road and Montpelier Road, Brighton, has also been experiencing bin chess.

Training consultant James Shirreff, 52, of Victoria Street, said he came home from holiday last week to discover one of the black bins outside his living room window.

It was originally on double-yellow lines at the opposite end of the road but was abruptly moved.

Mr Shirreff and several neighbours are now being affected by the bin, which has been placed in a parking bay in an area short of spaces.

He said: "There's a sense of outrage when the council does this without any consultation. They went through a completely spurious consultation process about the bins last year and now they ship them where ever they feel like it."

He is preparing a petition calling for the council to move the bin to a more appropriate location.

Several of the problems have come where bins were planned to go on yellow lines or close to street corners. They have since been discovered to be blocking sight lines or turning space.

A council spokeswoman said staff from its Cityclean refuse service had met with community associations, resident representatives and local councillors to discuss issues and wanted to work with them to find solutions.

She said they did not discriminate against any residents when choosing locations.

The spokeswoman said: "Residents were consulted on sites before the bins were introduced. Safety considerations were taken into account. When we make adjustments to where bins are sited we endeavour to do so without detriment to others.”