Brighton has always been renowned as the nation's favourite destination for dirty weekends.

Over the centuries it has been the romantic setting for countless illicit couplings.

Now historians at Brighton Museum want people to reveal all about sex and snogging in the city.

They are planning a new gallery at the museum based on the theme Images of Brighton.

And once the museum reopens after a multi-million pound refit, a large part of the display will feature lovers' memories of dirty weekends.

Kate Richardson, the museum's oral history officer, wants people to reminisce about romantic liaisons in bed and breakfasts by the sea.

She is keen to find out how attitudes to dirty weekends have changed over the years.

In the past, young lovers were often frowned upon by the moral majority, attracting suspicious glances from the B 'n' B owner as they signed the visitors' book.

Today, nobody blinks an eye when "Mr and Mrs Jones" turn up at reception.

Kate also wants to hear from hoteliers and their staff who played such an important part in cementing relationships.

She said the Prince Regent set the tone nearly 200 years ago with his hedonistic parties at the Royal Pavilion.

But Queen Victoria was far more prudish and loathed Brighton's sexually-charged atmosphere.

Despite her dislike of all things risqu, Brighton flourished as a naughty but nice Place To Be.

Dramatist John Osborne, who lived in Brighton, famously said: "Brighton is like nowhere else. No other resort has its simple raffishness.

"There was no close season on sex. Sex was all year round. Whenever I have lunch in Brighton, I always want to take someone to bed in the afternoon."

According to Simon Fanshawe, newspaperman Keith Waterhouse, another former Brighton resident, once said: "The beautiful thing about Brighton is you can buy your lover a pair of knickers at Victoria station and have them off again at the Grand Hotel in less than two hours."

More recently, Oasis singer and guitarist Noel Gallagher has spent several romantic weekends with his blonde girlfriend in the city.

Mr Fanshawe, who led Brighton and Hove's successful bid for city status, said Brighton had always been the place to go for a luxurious and sensual weekend.

He said: "It is all part of our wonderful atmosphere, slightly naughty but nice.

"I hope it is not shaking that image off. I hope visitors will endlessly arrive for dirty weekends.

"It is just such a very fashionable, sexy place. It has managed to retain that sexy seaside resort feel."

Ms Richardson said: "Brighton has always had a reputation as being a place for sexual pleasure.

"The gallery will look at the whole culture of illicit weekends, people coming down from London, the bed and breakfasts, and how attitudes have changed."

She can be contacted on 01273 292845 or email kate.richardson@brighton-hove.gov.uk