Playwright Brian Behan has promised to run as Brighton and Hove's first directly elected mayor - as the loo candidate.

The main plank of the 74-year-old's manifesto will be to reopen public lavatories and have OAPs running them.

If his campaign fails, he intends to lead a mass "wee-in" at the town hall.

He said: "I don't understand why there is some maniac in the town hall who wants to close all the loos. My slogan will be 'let the people wee'."

Voters will get the chance to elect a mayor if a referendum pencilled-in for May backs the idea.

Mr Behan, who lives in Hanover, Brighton, is among the first to say he will stand.

He said: "If I don't get the loos, I will march to the town hall in mayoral robes and start a wee-in."

He proudly claims he has "liberated" one public lavatory at Brighton Marina, which was closed until he stepped-in.

He said: "I will be an active mayor. I will have referendums on everything, including the colour of loo paper.

"I will strip away completely the layers of bureaucracy preventing Brighton becoming the vibrant, entertaining city it should be. I want to make Brighton The Place to Wee."

Mr Behan said he would also campaign to end homophobic attacks and for the legalisation of cannabis and euthanasia.

Mr Behan, who swims naked in the sea every day and is the brother of the late Irish writer Brendan, formed the Grey Power Party to fight for pensioners' rights.