A 15ft deep hole was left uncovered on a busy pavement for a week while officials tried to decide who was responsible for fixing it.

It was only when we contacted Brighton and Hove City Council that action was taken to make it temporarily safe.

The only warning of the hole, which was in the middle of the pavement on Upper Rock Gardens, Brighton, was an upside down traffic cone which had been dropped into it.

Although on a public pavement, the hole was the responsibility of a property freeholder. The council said it did not know who the owner was but they would be billed for the work and made to repair it properly when traced.

Jean Wills-Taylor, who complained to the council, said: "I phoned and told them it was really urgent because there was a hole in the pavement someone could fall down.

"The cone had been dropped all the way into the hole, which gives you some idea of its size. I've got a three-year-old child who is easily small enough to have fallen down it.

"When I went back in the afternoon I expected to see it fixed or at least made a bit safer but nothing had been done.

"I phoned the council again and spoke to the highways department and they said they were aware of the situation.

"They said it was an ongoing problem but they couldn't find the person responsible.

"I asked what would happen if someone sued and they said they wouldn't be affected because it was the building owner's responsibility.

"I'm appalled by their comments. Surely safety is the first priority. If you were walking down that street at night time there's no way you could see it. "

A council spokeswoman said: "We have responded by plating it, which means to cover it to make it safe.

"We have contacted the property's management agent and are trying to track down the owner so they can get it sorted out.

"We don't know who the owner is at the moment."