The shameful scene of piles of rubbish blighting the Regency beauty of central Brighton could be ended for good.

Millions of tourists who head into the resort each year pass piles of bin bags lining Grand Parade, many torn open, leaving rubbish and rotten food strewn across the pavements.

But yesterday the city council's environment committee decided enough was enough and agreed to introduce communal bins to clean up the streets.

Residents will be able to dump their waste at any time into the containers which will be emptied five times a week.

Syringes and other hazardous waste spills out from the bags, creating a hazard for pedestrians.

A report to the council branded the debris a health risk encouraging vermin.

Joseph Mansur, 45, the manager of Pierre's Cafe in Grand Parade, said: "It is really disgusting round here. It's a main road and it is not nice at all. I think the bins are a good idea but I do hope people use them. I think if people leave their rubbish outside them they should be fined."

Cityclean, Brighton and Hove City Council's in-house refuse service, has consulted with residents in Grand Parade, Morley Street, Circus Street and Richmond Terrace about the bins.

Although they have been shunned in other areas of the city, many residents - exasperated by the build-up of rubbish in Grand Parade - have requested the containers.

Pete Marsh, 26, a second-hand car dealer, lives in Grand Parade. He said: "It's a good idea because at the moment everyone just chucks the bags on to the street.

"But if they put the bins in, the drunk people who come along here on Friday and Saturday may throw them around - unless they're going to be chained up."

The bins will cost £7,560, be funded from local public service agreement money, given by the Government in return for local authorities meeting their targets. It is thought they will be installed immediately.

Labour councillor Simon Burgess, whose Queen's Park ward includes Grand Parade, said the area had been an eyesore for years.

He said: "I'm really pleased this area is going to be cleaned up."

Coun Burgess also supports enforcement action against residents who fail to use the communal bins if they are installed and continue to place their refuse in bags in the parade.

Green city councillor Simon Williams said: "The real test will be to find suitable and unobtrusive locations for the bins.

"This is an architecturally historic area of the city and bin locations need to be chosen with great sensitivity."