Plans to start the overhaul of more than 35 miles of water pipes in Brighton and Hove have been announced by Southern Water.

The city's network of pipes, between 120 and 150 years old, will be replaced as part of a £15.5 million project lasting until December 2009.

Southern Water says replacing the 57km of old metal pipes with plastic ones will reduce the number of bursts and leaks.

But residents and businesses affected will lose their water supply for up to 12 hours and work in each area will take between six and eight weeks.

Work will begin on June 5 from St Aubyns, Hove, to Waterloo Street, Hove, from Waterloo Street to West Street, Brighton, in Compton Road and in Church Street, Brighton.

Southern Water said it will not start seafront roadworks until the autumn or winter.

The company is investing more than £250 million in schemes to improve water supplies during the next five years and says the work will minimise future traffic disruptions.

Outdated fire hydrants will also be replaced and better positioned, the first time a fire authority will have the opportunity to install its own fire protection network.

The work will stretch along the seafront from the King Alfred Centre, Hove, to Brighton's Palace Pier, and up through the city centre.