A council leader has declared war on unwanted signs cluttering streets.

Ken Bodfish, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said the plague of notices ordering people to refrain from various types of behaviour was proof society was becoming too averse to risk taking.

He said the city could function properly with half the number of signs and warnings currently in place.

Councillor Bodfish said: "There are twice as many signs as we need.

"There is too much street clutter generally and in particular too many signs saying don't do this or that.

"Sometimes we need them but we do go over the top."

He highlighted a new cycle path in Ovingdean, which he said had been signposted by half a dozen notices in a small area.

He said: "There is a ludicrous number of signs telling you it's a cycle path and an inordinate number of silly signs disfigures the coast."

Coun Bodfish admitted his council was guilty of displaying too much information and urged his own officers to exercise more restraint when deciding where to place signs.

He said: "I want to identify where there is excessive street clutter.

"It spoils the street scene and we should ask whether much of it is really necessary."

Adrian Montford, of the Brighton Society conservation group, backed the council leader's comments.

He said: "The signs distract from the visual impact of the city.

"Brighton is a very beautiful place and we don't want to look at signs, we want to look at Brighton.

"Many of them could be better designed and placed."

A council spokeswoman said: "The signs are there for a purpose - to help people by providing them with information.

"The council does its best to keep the streets free of sign clutter by having the minimum number of signs required and fixing signs to the same post wherever possible."

In June, West Sussex County Council launched a campaign to save Sussex streets from unwanted signs.

The council promised to reduce the number of signs as part of a ten-year transport plan from April 2006.

Earlier this year Lewes was praised by Save Our Streets, an English Heritage campaign, for fighting street clutter.