Brighton has been named one of the top ten beach cities in the world.

It ranks alongside Barcelona, Sydney, New York and Los Angeles in a new guide for travellers looking for a combination of urban and beach holidays.

The list, produced by website Skyscanner, also features Copenhagen, Tel Aviv, Vancouver, Dubrovnik and Berlin.

Skyscanner said, 'Brighton beachfront is famous for its pier which hosts a fun fair, arcades, side stalls, bars and an atmosphere of traditional seaside fun.  Brighton is also know for its lively nightlife and funky beach club culture.'

David Smith, Brighton & Hove City Council cabinet member for tourism, said the rating was the latest in a string of commendations for the city as one of the world's greatest destinations.

He said, 'We work tirelessly to ensure that when visitors come to our city they have the best possible experience with great hotels, restaurants and pubs, shopping, entertainment, events, beautiful and well-kept public spaces and all in a tidy compact area.'

He said the tourism website www.visitbrighton.com had a significant increase in traffic in the past few months, with interest from countries in Europe and as far away as Mali, the Seychelles and Fiji.

The Argus 11th July 2009