Savvy rough-sleepers have been selling the free Brighton Fringe programme after organisers ran out of them in only the second week.

The entrepreneurial homeless people were seen flogging the 84-page brochure for £2 a time in New Road after shops and cafes got through the 100,000 print run.

Fringe director Julian Caddy praised them for their resourcefulness and smart thinking.

He said: “I was back in London the other night and actually picked up 150 or so brochures from one of the venues stocking them.

“I nearly broke my back but we do now have a very limited second run under lock and key.”

Last week with the brochures all gone, Fringe staff did their best to keep visitors abreast of show times and venues at their information points in New Road.

It was only when a female visitor informed them that she had been offered a programme from a homeless man for £2 that they realised they were getting additional help.

Fringe organiser Kata Gyöngyösi added: “It's quite funny really. I guess it shows how popular they have been.

“We had to ask people to try and hold them back but they were still all gone by the end of the second week.

“It would be great if anyone who has finished with their programme could hand it to us at either our box office or info points in New Road.”

A limited number of brochures will be available from the Fringe's North Street box office.