Residents of flats covered in scaffolding are pleading for it to be taken down - almost a year after it went up.

Work to put in windows and redecorate the building took little more than a week to complete.

But the scaffolding remains in Clarendon Place, Brighton, due to a dispute over payment.

Residents say they can hardly get in and out of their homes without bumping their heads on poles outside.

Danny Wincott, who lives in a basement flat with his girlfriend and five-month-old baby, said: "The scaffolding was erected last October.

"We have hardly been able to get in and out of our flat. There's a pole outside the front door and if you go out you hit your head on it.

"We ordered furniture but the company can't deliver it because they can't get the stuff in.

"I know there's a dispute about who should pay for the scaffolding but why can't they take it down while they sort it out?"

The scaffolding was erected by Brighton-based Pavilion Scaffolding on the instructions of the Surrey builder originally hired to do the job.

When the builder had still not started work by May the contract was awarded to another firm, which has now completed the project.

But Pavilion says it has not been paid and has taken court action against the original builder.

The firm says the scaffolding can only be taken down when someone pays them to do it - a job costing less than £500.

Lesley Herriott, of Pavilion, said: "We were only asked to take it away on July 1 and that's when we found out the builder was no longer doing the work.

"Our contract is with the person who asked us to put it up so we can only take it down on his instructions. We have gone to court over it.

"It must be very annoying for the tenants. But we're not leaving it there because we feel like it. There is no way we would just leave it because it's worth too much.

"I agree it's an eyesore but they have had the benefit of free scaffolding and now they've got a nice new painted building."

Mark Lower, the property freeholder, said: "There's no need for the scaffolding to still be there.

"There's a dispute and I sympathise but penalising tenants and keeping it up while it pursues the building contractor through legal channels doesn't help anyone.

"It looks good now the work is completed - or it will once they take the scaffolding away."