A restaurant owner is spearheading a campaign by residents to rid the streets of mountains of rubbish.

Mamoud Bartoli wants Brighton and Hove City Council to improve its waste collection service after council dustcarts failed to make their regular visit, leaving piles of rubbish bags around the Lewes Road area of Brighton.

He also says residents should take more care when putting out their garbage.

Mr Bartoli, who runs Bartoli's Food Parlour in Lewes Road, said: "There is an ongoing problem in this area as the rubbish does not seem to be picked up on a regular basis."

He wants the council to educate people about waste and consider imposing penalties for those who litter excessively or fail to recycle.

Mr Bartoli said: "The council should be much more involved because the area is being neglected. If it does take action, it's back to square one in three weeks' time.

"The council needs to come down on people who regularly offend but it should also increase how often it collects the rubbish. Once a week is not good enough.

"If everyone pulls together, everyone will benefit in the long run."

Other residents are supporting Mr Bartoli.

Peter Newnham, who has lived in St Paul's Street for 15 years, has noticed a deterioration in the collection service.

Mr Newnham, 43, said: "Sometimes the lorries leave bags and they get split open which, in hot weather, is pretty grim."

"It's a real problem in this area and they only seem to do anything when Mr Bartoli complains. But who wants to open a business or eat in a restaurant when there are piles of rubbish in the street?"

Neighbour Patricia Bravington, 72, who has lived in the area for 21 years, said: "Mamoud and I are doing our best to keep our streets tidy because this is often called a 'high crime' area which is not very nice. A lot of it is about perception and if an area looks clean then it feels safer."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "We are considering moving to containerised refuse collection in that area, such as wheelie bins, which would cut out the problem of black bag waste.

"St Paul's Street and St Mary Magdalene Street are very narrow so we have to have a main collection and then go back later with a smaller vehicle which is a bit of a nightmare. By mid to end of August we hope to have a different vehicle that can do the whole lot at once."

Wednesday July 9 2003