An iconic landmark is set to open its doors for the first time in three years.

Foredown Tower in Portslade - once the water tower for Hove Isolation Hospital - will be reopening as an adult learning and visitor centre.

The tower, in Foredown Road, was built in 1909 but has been shut since 2008. It has now been taken over by Portslade Learning Community CIC.

It holds one of only two operational camera obscuras in the south-east and is being renovated and refurbished before it opens.

Meetings will be held for members of the public to discuss the tower's future.

Portslade Learning Community CIC centre development officer Jayne Routley said: “This is such an exciting venture for us. Foredown is amazing.

“It will be a great place to learn and relax. We will be running adult learning classes in computing, art, craft, science, the environment and local history.

“It may take us a while to get the camera obscura open to the public but it is one of the largest in the world and will be worth the wait.”

Janet Farr, the director of adult learning at education charity Parents and Children Together, said: “We want Portslade to be a centre of excellence for adult learning.

“Foredown Tower is one of two projects we are undertaking to encourage Portslade residents to get involved in learning in their local community. The other is a learning centre in Boundary Road.”

The tower, which was the water tower for a sanatorium for people with infectious diseases originally, was converted in 1991 into a centre housing a large camera obscura which reflects the surrounding countryside onto a screen 18ft below it.

Three informal meetings will take place about plans to reopen the tower.

They will be at 10am on October 3, 6.30pm on October 13 and 4.30pm on October 26.

To get involved call Jayne on 01273 422632 or go to one of the meetings.