A locked gate could be fitted across a busy street to keep out drunken yobs.

Residents of Farman Street, Hove, say they are fed up with drunks urinating, vomiting and fighting on their doorsteps.

They say the pedestrianised passageway has become a rat run for people returning from drink-fuelled nights in Western Road.

After an unsuccessful six-year battle to convince Brighton and City Council to gate off the narrow street, homeowners say they are now prepared to put up the cash themselves.

They have applied to the council for planning permission to install the gate which would be fitted with an electronic keypad to keep out unwanted visitors.

Amy Rock, who has lived in the street for 23 years, said she was physically threatened when she asked one lout not to urinate on their front door in the middle of the day.

The 61-year-old has also found hypodermic needles in plant pots and said she is woken up at all hours of the night by shouting and swearing.

She said: “It’s terrible here. People just come here to urinate, to take drugs and to fight.

“Two weeks ago someone was mugged outside my front door.

“Everyone who lives here is sick of it.

“We’ve been trying for years to get the council to do something but they always said there wasn’t enough money. Now we’ve had enough so we’re going to do it ourselves.”

The proposed gates would restrict access to the street from Western Road between the hours of 9pm and 9am although residents could still get in or out using a code.

Farman Street would become only the second street in the city to have gates to prevent antisocial behaviour, after Brunswick Row, off London Road, had them installed in 2007.

Residents have been asked for their views on the plans before a decision is made by the council.

Comment on the application at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/planning.