Fake palm trees have been installed at Brighton Marina in an attempt to turn the busy shopping and tourist destination into a second Miami.

The 20ft-high trees are intended to create a tropical feel and, according to the marina's owners, have been welcomed by residents and visitors.

But others have criticised them for choosing synthetic plants and giving Brighton and Hove an American feel.

They were bought by the marina's parent company X-Leisure, which owns 19 leisure sites in locations such as Poole, Norwich, Ashford, Wolverhampton, Edinburgh and Croydon and took over Brighton Marina last year.

In 2002, Worthing Borough Council erected ten real cordyline trees - a tropical plant that is hardier than a palm .

The 17 trees at the Marina, bought from a Sussex firm, are made from steel tubes covered with natural dried coconut husks.

Some were erected in time for the Big Splash, the fun day held at the marina at the end of the Brighton Festival in May.

Marina spokeswoman Becky Taylor said: "I call it Miami comes to Brighton.

"We put them in there to enhance the visitor experience.

"We have had a huge amount of positive feedback. It gives a face lift for our summer campaign. They look fantastic and they have changed the look of the whole marina.

"We are now in the process of finishing that off in the next couple of weeks."

She said the firm was told real trees could not survive the English climate. It is not known how long the artificial trees will last.

When real trees were installed in Worthing, they faced some opposition.

But the potted trees proved immensely popular and another 20 were installed along a two-mile stretch of seafront to Heene Road.

Paul High, ward councillor for Heene, championed the trees from the start - but did not like the idea of a synthetic version.

He said: "We were told palm trees wouldn't survive but cordylines are a hardier species. We wrap them up in winter to protect them.

"They are really flourishing. They have made the whole place look a lot better."

In Hove, roses outside the town hall have been replaced by a tropical plant.

Valerie Paynter, of Clarendon Road, Hove, said: "There were these beautiful white English Iceberg roses. Now it looks a bit like Miami. It may as well be Hoveangeles.

"I want my English roses back."