A series of pink plaques to celebrate gay and lesbian history has been proposed.

At Brighton and Hove City Council's culture and tourism committee meeting on Thursday members discussed expanding the upcoming blue plaque scheme to include pink plaques, commemorating important names in gay, lesbian and transgender history in the city.

Green councillor Bill Randall, who made the suggestion, said Brighton and Hove's gay and lesbian heritage had contributed significantly to the city and made it a unique place.

It should be recognised with a series of pink plaques which could form a gay and lesbian history trail.

Mr Randall said he had recently visited Manchester, where rainbow pavement tiles around the city mark the locations of both key and amusing stories from Manchester's gay past.

He said: "It has worked wonderfully there and I think we should do it here.

"Gay, lesbian and transgender history has played an important and unique role in Brighton and Hove's heritage and we should mark that.

"When enough plaques have been put up they should be linked together in a gay and lesbian heritage trail."

Adam Bates, head of tourism at the council, said the newly-formed commemorative plaque panel, which will be created in coming weeks, could introduce pink plaques if they wanted.

He said: "This sort of flexibility is absolutely what we are hoping for on the panel.

"I hope they will be able to be flexible in terms of what is right for this city."

Coun Randall said nominations for pink plaques should come from the gay and lesbian community who should have a representative on the panel.

Possibilities include eccentric aristocrat Count Eric Stenbock, who is buried in the Extra-Mural Cemetery off Lewes Road and gay arts patron Edward Thompson, who lived in Second Avenue, Hove.

Coun Averil Older, who the committee decided should represent them on the new panel, said: "I don't see why we should not have pink plaques."

Local history enthusiasts were not so keen.

Selma Montford, secretary of the Brighton Society, said: "I would prefer everybody to have the same colour plaque.

"People should be commemorated for the kind of work they have done, not their sexuality, which has got nothing to do with plaques.

"If a gay or lesbian has done something important to warrant a plaque then they should get one, but it should be blue like everyone else's.

"It has a bit of writing on the plaque to explain their achievements, so it would give details on there about how they were important."

Manchester's Lesbian and Gay Heritage Trail was first put into action during the city's 2002 Pride celebrations.

It proved such a success that it returned the next year and attracted even greater crowds.

In 2005 it got formal recognition from the city council, which now promotes the walk alongside other more established events.

Benedict Brook, a trustee at gay and lesbian history organisation Brighton Ourstory, said different-coloured plaques could be a useful tool for visitors.

Mr Brook, 28, said: "Gay and lesbian people throughout the town's history have, in a sense. made Brighton and Hove the place it is and many people come here for that reason.

"Having special plaques would help them explore that heritage.

"It's a fantastic idea to have pink plaques.

"Gays and lesbians have been such an important part in the town's history and that should be fully recognised."