A council has backtracked over a policy of using high pressure water jets to clean buildings during a drought.

Brighton and Hove City Council has ruled it will no longer use the jets, which dispense about a thousand litres of water an hour, following intervention by The Argus.

The Argus revealed yesterday that council contractors had spent seven hours cleaning moss off the roof and clearing the guttering at a block of council flats in Chelwood Close, Brighton on Tuesday.

The council at first defended its methods, saying the use of jets to clean public buildings was not outlawed by the hosepipe and sprinkler bans in effect across Sussex.

Last night council leader Simon Burgess said the practice would be stopped with immediate effect unless absolutely necessary.

He said: "We have decided with officers we are suspending such works unless there is a really urgent reason. We may have got all the right permissions but it sends out all the wrong messages to the public when everybody is supposed to be careful with water."

Jessica Dodd, whose home in Carden Hill overlooks Chelwood Close, had been horrified when she saw workmen using water jets all day.

Last night she applauded the council's decision to stop. Mrs Dodd, 38, said: "It's fantastic. That is what we want to hear. We are all trying to save water."

Joe Spring, a pensioner from Laughton Road, Woodingdean, phoned Southern Water to complain after reading about the council's behaviour.

He told The Argus: "I am 77. I can't afford it but I have bought a water butt for £20 and we put our bath water in it and our washing up water."

Roofing specialists in Brighton have said there is no need to use water to clean guttering and it can be done through sweeping.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "We very much welcome the news and we appreciate the efforts the council and everybody makes to cut down on water use."

Keith Taylor, leader of the Green group on the council, said: "If it is absolutely necessary we should carry on using water. If it can wait until there is more available, we should wait."