A free play scheme which will tour Brighton and Hove will not visit one of the city’s most deprived estates.

Critics say the organisers of Entertainment in the Park are ignoring the people who would most benefit from it.

The publicly funded play scheme will visit Bevendean, Hangleton, Hove Lawns, East Hill Park and Queen’s Park over the next three weeks.

At each venue, children’s workers will run activities including music, art, face painting and live performances for local youngsters.

But they will not stop in Whitehawk.

East Brighton’s Labour councillors say it is the second time the Conservative authority has snubbed their ward this summer.

Earlier this month, The Argus revealed the council’s playbus will make 70 stops at 18 different locations in the city during July and August but will visit East Brighton only once.

Coun Warren Morgan said: “Kids in a deprived area have lost out on play facilities for the second time this summer. After being told that the council’s playbus would make only one stop in East Brighton this year, the area has now been excluded from the Entertainments in the Park programme.

“Families in Whitehawk, Manor Farm, Craven Vale and the Bristol Estate will again feel the Conservative led council has ignored them.

“Other areas like Woodingdean will be visited by the council’s playbus on a regular basis during the school holidays.

“Parents in areas of real social need like Whitehawk will feel that the council is saying ‘You’ve had your turn’ and leaving them to make their own entertainment this summer.”

Whitehawk residents feel unfairly treated by the council, which is planning to build a permanent travellers’ site in Sheepcote Valley.

Coun Craig Turton said: “The Tories are waging a ‘dump and deny’ war against East Brighton residents.

“They are dumping a travellers’ site on locals without consultation and are now denying parents and children with real social needs access to play facilities.

“The East Brighton residents are probably wondering what they actually get from the Tories for the council tax they pay.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “It is quite wrong to say East Brighton is being discriminated against.

“Whitehawk has already had an award of £115,000 from the Big Lottery, the funders of the playbus, for free play activity, money not available to any other part of the city.

“Brighton and Hove City Council is committed to providing a comprehensive play service to every part of the city whether it be the playbus, holiday play schemes, sports courses or entertainments in the parks.”