Wealthy people are encouraging travellers into the city by providing work for them, a leading councillor has claimed.

Leading Labour councillor Brian Fitch made the claim at a policy committee meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council, saying travellers made money through resurfacing drives.

Coun Fitch added: "They are doing it for well-heeled people who like to pay cash in hand."

He was refuting a claim by Tory Opposition leader Geoffrey Theobald that travellers came to the city because it was a soft touch.

But Coun Theobald retorted: "There are plenty of people with drives in Bournemouth and Southend but there are no travellers there."

He said people in Brighton and Hove were fed up with illegally-camped travellers and with sites such as one at Patcham Court Farm which were tolerated by the council.

Labour councillor Tehmtan Framroze said it was time the Government speeded up the process allowing the council to move on travellers causing a nuisance.

He said some people in Coldean were angry about a camp at 39 Acre Field which had caused a lot of problems.

But Green councillor Pete West warned the authority not to adopt an intolerant attitude towards travellers.

Cabinet councillor Don Turner said the council wanted to send a delegation to Westminster to press for improvements in powers available to local authorities.

He added: "We are inviting the opposition to come."

Tory councillor Jenny Langston said she welcomed what she called a change of mind by Labour.