Beggars make up to £70 a day on the streets of Brighton and Hove and most spend it on heroin, it has been claimed.

David Panter, chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, said he had seen an escalation in the scale of the drugs problem.

Mr Panter said the authorities had managed to keep a lid on the problem so far but urgent action was needed to stop it spiralling out of control.

Speaking to the City Forum at Brighton College, Mr Panter said there was growing evidence drug dealers were coming from London and Liverpool to set up bases in the city.

He said he received letters from people complaining that drugs were being dealt openly on the beach.

This did not happen when he arrived in his job two-and-a-half years ago.

Mr Panter, who chairs a team on drug and alcohol abuse, said drugs could eat away at the fabric and economy of the city.

He said of 33 beggars interviewed, 31 were feeding a heroin habit.

Mr Panter said: "They were raising between £60 and £70 a day for this habit and they were getting it through begging."

He said a large increase in drug misuse had been stemmed but added: "This may not continue unless we do something.

"We don't have a very big problem but we could if we are not careful."

Chief Inspector Lisa Pearcey, district police commander for the city centre, said the public needed to become more involved.

She gave the example of the seafront, where traders complained about drug dealing.

They could help by not allowing known dealers to use their chairs and tables.

She added: "The public must take some responsibility and take part in tackling the problem."

Dr Tom Scanlon, acting director of public health in the city, said it was estimated there were 2,300 injecting drug users.

There have been 87 drug-related deaths in the past 20 months.

Many victims were homeless and had mental health problems.

Dr Scanlon said drug deathlevels were similar to those in Liverpool and inner London.