An open-air Shakespeare festival will return to Brighton this summer despite last year's event being dubbed a comedy of errors.

Director and actor Robert J Williamson had vowed never to bring the production to the city again after a host of problems in the Pavilion Gardens last year, including the last-minute withdrawal of ex-Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw.

Organisers insisted the productions of As You Like It and Hamlet still attracted sell-out audiences and positive reviews but Brighton and Hove City Council said the festival could not be held in the gardens again.

Mr Williamson has decided his firm will stage a festival this year but this time it will take place in Preston Park between June 22 and July 4.

He said: "I did get annoyed about things in Brighton. I spent £600,000 last year bringing Shakespeare to the people.

"Some cities, such as Nottingham and Leeds, were really helpful but at Brighton we got blamed for every single sweet wrapper in the Pavilion Gardens.

"I constantly found obstacles put in my way and had to spend extra money on security. Then we had the problems with Tracy Shaw.

"Now I will never put an actor or actress into one of my productions just because they have appeared in a soap series."

The director said Joyce Branagh, sister of actor-director Kenneth Branagh, would direct part of the festival, which includes Much Ado About Nothing, with Robert J Williamson as Benedick, and Twelfth Night, with Wayne Sleep as Feste.

The productions will take place on the former bowling green behind Preston Manor.

Mr Williamson, who is considering moving to Brighton from west London, said: "This is a much better venue. It is enclosed and the site is more secure.

"We will not have to take away the seating each night, we will have our own bar facilities and people will be able to picnic.

"We will not have so many problems with drunks and hopefully we will not have to put up with people shooting up heroin.

"Hopefully the council and the people of Brighton will support us. Despite our problems last year we sold out on some nights and we hope to do the same this year."