Condom deliveries to a meeting place for gay men are being made under police escort following threats by travellers.

The unusual guard duty follows verbal abuse of the health workers who provide advice and free safe-sex packs at Duke's Mound, near Brighton Marina.

A man and woman from the Street Outreach Service (SOS), run by East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Health Authority, were confronted in the van they use as a mobile information desk in the fight against Aids.

It is stationed at Duke's Mound at night. One evening last week a group of men from the nearby Black Rock travellers' site approached.

They hurled abuse at the staff and one man climbed on board and continued the tirade.

One said: "If you call the police there will be trouble."

There are also reports from gay men that they have been shouted at and insulted and police are investigating whether any homophobic crimes have been committed.

Meanwhile, SOS has suspended its van service. A spokesman said: "It is not safe but we will review the situation."

Instead, the service is leaving safe-sex packs in a box at Duke's Mound each night and, as a precaution, plain-clothed police are providing delivery staff with an escort.

The spokesman said the box was better than nothing in the fight against sexually-transmitted diseases.

Inspector Paul Smith, east Brighton police commander, said: "There have been no reports of problems since the incident but we are continuing to monitor the situation.

"We have officers patrolling the area."

He urged anyone with complaints regarding homophobia to contact the newly-formed Brighton and Hove police Anti-Victimisation Unit on 01273 665502 or 01273 665800.