A monthly magazine run by a former weekly newspaper editor has launched a series of campaign to improve the seaside resort it serves.

The Worthing Journal is aiming to restore civic pride to the Sussex town after what editor Paul Holden has called “years of council neglect”.

Paul, formerly of Brighton daily The Argus, recently gave councillors and officers a guided tour of the town centre to highlight areas of concern.

His concerns included paving stones in pedestrian precincts being replaced by Tarmac patching, broken ‘finger post’ directional signs, scores of unpainted bollards, rusting phone boxes, wrecked rubbish bins and vandalised seats.

Readers taking part in last year’s Journal planting campaign

Said Paul: “The public has had enough of shoddy neglect and The Journal will continue to campaign vigorously for the restoration of civic pride.

“If the council can spend £100,000 on a glossy document it can replace Tarmac patching and paint bollards.”

Paul set up the magazine in 2011 after being made redundant following the closure of the Worthing Sentinel, where he was editor.

Last month it published its biggest edition to date at 116 pages, and will be launching its annual seafront flag appeal next month.

In May, readers will gather on the seafront for the community promenade planting campaign and the Journal is also planning to publish more than 600 biographies of Great War victims listed on the town’s war memorial.