When the Whitehawk Estate in Brighton was rebuilt 25 years ago, alleys and cul-de-sacs were introduced to make it more neighbourly than the rather grim old layout.

But they have led to problems with crime and now there are plans to get rid of some of them in the southern part of the estate.

The trouble is that many of the residents don't want the closures because they will lead to long detours when they want to see friends or go to the shops.

Ideally, the alleys would be removed in a further redevelopment but that is not practical while the homes are in good condition.

Brighter lighting and better security measures may solve the difficulties in some areas.

In others, where there are serious problems, daily detours are more acceptable than having a high chance of being mugged or burgled.