August should have been the month when rubbish clearance and collection in Brighton and Hove improved greatly.

After taking nine months to reach agreement with the unions, Sita decided to rearrange the rounds to make the operation more efficient.

But since then, there has been chaos. Many people have not been told about the change in their collection day.

Even more have not had rubbish collected at all since the change took place, causing problems when the weather is hot.

Bags of rubbish lying waiting for collection have been torn open by cats, foxes and seagulls with the contents spilling all over the road. Rats have been seen in a few places.

Sita did not make a good start with chaos in collections after both the New Year and Spring Bank Holidays.

It took the company far too long to sort out problems with its workforce and agree proper working practices.

So far, most residents and the council have been patient, because organising rubbish collection in large towns is not easy.

But Sita should be warned that patience is rapidly running out and it's time Brighton and Hove were kept clean and tidy again.

Jobs challenge Proof, if any were needed, that Brighton and Hove are booming has been provided in the latest set of unemployment figures.

They show that the two towns have seen jobless totals fall faster than anywhere else in the country during the last year.

Tourism and new technology are thriving on the sunny South Coast. Some companies, such as Brighton and Hove Buses, are actually experiencing staff shortages.

But there is still a long way to go.

Unemployment levels are still far too high and it will need persuasion as well as prosperity to get some of the long-term jobless back into work.

Harry de-faced The face of Harry Potter is instantly recognisable to millions of youngsters through the work of a Sussex artist.

Although author JK Rowling is now a household name, not many people have heard of Cliff Wright who lives in Newhaven.

Sadly, a dispute with publishers Bloomsbury prevented Cliff from designing illustrations for the latest hot-selling Harry Potter book.

If only it could be resolved, Ms Rowling would once again find her Mr Wright.