Cabbies in Brighton and Hove are fed up with road works which they claim are causing a serious loss of business.

The city drivers say resurfacing work on the A259 seafront road, which started on July 1, is preventing them from getting to jobs on time.

As a result, customers are getting fed up and cancelling and it is costing drivers hundreds of pounds.

The problems are set to continue as the works will take at least four weeks to complete.

Alan Winter, 59, a taxi driver for Brighton and Hove Radio Cabs, said: "The seafront road is being resurfaced and the traffic is using other roads and it is all causing so much upheaval and chaos around the whole city.

"The council has said this is the best time in terms of the weather to do it but it is also peak season in Brighton.

"This is the time taxi drivers rely on to make good money and because of these roadworks I am losing a lot. I would say drivers are losing about 25 per cent of income."

Tony Turner, owner of Brighton and Hove Radio Cabs, agreed: "It is terrible. People are complaining to us about it all the time.

"Drivers are getting stuck in traffic for ages, only to find there is no job for them when they get there because it has been cancelled.

"Tourism is something taxi drivers in Brighton rely on but the council does not seem to have taken that into consideration."

Kelly Addison, supervisor of Streamline, said: "Drivers cannot get to customers quickly enough. We are losing quite a lot of business.

"Customers do not understand about roadworks when they call for a taxi and they have just been cancelling, saying they will try elsewhere. As a result, I think the drivers are just avoiding the area all together."

The resurfacing work takes place from 7am to 10pm.

A council spokeswoman said the A259 seafront road, which is one of the busiest in the city, was in urgent need of major repairs.

She said the new materials would provide a quieter and low maintenance surface and could not be laid in cold or wet weather.

Councillor Simon Battle, deputy chair of environment, said: "These works are essential to maintain this important road and make it safer.

"The council has taken care to plan the works so they cause as little disruption as possible but we urge people to find alternative routes."