Shopkeepers are preparing to withhold taxes and go to jail unless drunks and beggars are driven from their street.

St James's Street in Brighton has seen big improvements in the past few years but some traders believe anti-social villains are still driving customers away.

As The Argus interviewed one restaurateur, one man openly flouted the street-drinking ban and downed a can of lager while sitting on the window sill of a caf.

He hid the can under clothing when two police community support officers (CSOs) walked past.

Dave Radtke, who moved the man on peacefully, said drinkers and beggars were often abusive to customers and staff and some slept rough at the rear of his Tin Drum restaurant.

He no longer opened large front windows on to the street on hot nights because drunks would lean inside and frighten diners.

His assistant manager Deano Moncrieffe said there were five or six incidents every day.

He said: "Staff have been attacked and verbally abused - it is relentless.

"Customers can't sit outside without being asked for a cigarette or money."

Mr Radtke showed The Argus letters spanning three years from police and politicians, most of them promising action.

He said he was now considering withholding council taxes until action was taken.

He said: "It is not just affecting my business but me personally - I'm having sleepless nights.

"I'm at my wits' end and I feel entirely powerless. Drinkers and beggars have got control."

Mike Dalley, who runs the nearby Cardome store, said he called police on Thursday when a drinker refused to leave the entrance to his shop: "The operator asked 'do you own the street?' or words to that effect.

"Needless to say police never responded."

He is prepared to withhold taxes "for a service we do not get".

He said: "I have decided from August 1 I will withhold the 25.7 per cent of non-domestic rates and the 25 per cent of domestic rates that go towards Sussex Police.

"I will encourage other business people to do the same. If need be I will go to prison."

Mr Dalley, like Mr Radtke a member of the St James's Street Action Group, said he may ask traders to pay police for extra patrols "even though that would mean us paying twice for policing."

He said: "They have brought in all these anti-social behaviour laws and drinking bans but if they don't enforce them what good are they?"

Mr Radtke, who runs three restaurants in the city, said hostels for the homeless at either end of St James's Street meant drinkers were continually walking up and down the road.

A new cashpoint outside a Co-op next to the Tin Drum is partly shielded from view by telephone kiosks and Mr Radtke said it had become a favourite spot for beggars.

He said: "What sort of impression does that give visitors who check into nearby hotels and use the cashpoint to get money?

"It must be reassuring for people in Sussex to read in The Argus about the reduction in crime - unless you live or work around here. This problem is affecting every business and the entire city."

Other traders in the street applauded police.

Carol Dawes, who runs What Not gift shop, said: "Things have got slightly better but I am concerned that when the drink ban goes city-wide next month police resources might be stretched too thinly."

Chief Inspector Lisa Pearcey said there had been no increase in crime in the street this year compared to 2002 but reports of drunkenness were up.

She said: "That is why we have put CSOs and regular officers on high-visibility patrols in the area.

"We and traders are working with Brighton Crime Initiative and the council to clean up the environment."