Building work is to begin finally on the Brighton Eye over a year late and after a succession of false starts.

The developers behind the i360 seafront viewing tower have begun to put in place agreements which will enable them to commence construction within months or even weeks.

It is a boost to Brighton and Hove after a period of uncertainty about major projects planned for the seafront.

The developers behind schemes at Brighton Marina, the King Alfred site in Hove, the Brighton Centre and Black Rock have all been forced to look at their plans again because of the credit crunch.

Architects Marks Barfield, who were responsible for the London Eye, were given planning permission in 2006 to build the i360, a 172m high needle tower dubbed the "stick of rock" with an ascending and descending donut-shaped viewing platform.

Now notices have been issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) to enable work at the development site at the land end of the wrecked West Pier.

Members of the West Pier Trust, which had previously campaigned to rebuild the pier but now back the i360, said the move was very positive news.