Ice stars Robin Cousins and Jayne Torvill are among those backing plans for a new rink and entertainments centre.

The £30 million scheme from Brighton Ice Rink is one of those being considered by the city Council, which has been marketing the Black Rock site.

Last year the council approved a planning brief for the site, which has been vacant since 1978. It said the use should be primarily for leisure and recreation.

Black Rock housed an open-air art deco swimming pool from the Thirties until the Seventies when it proved no longer economic to run.

Robin, who lives in the Brighton area, said there was still tremendous interest in ice.

He used to skate at the Top Rank Centre in Brighton, which operated for a few years after the much-loved SS Brighton closed in the mid-Sixties.

Since then, the city has boasted only the ice rink in Queen Square, which is popular but too small for major events.

The new rink would be able to house 8,000 people for big ice events and 10,000 for other events. There would also be a secondary arena.

Robin said: "It is a most exciting project and could be high profile for the city."

Both he and Jayne would be available to offer training to those who wanted it.

She would concentrate on ice dance while he would specialise in figure skating.

Businessman David Pople said he hoped the council would choose the ice project as its favoured development for Black Rock.

He said details of the design had been discussed with English Heritage, which wanted it kept largely below the height of the cliff.

Mr Pople said it would only need about 40 or 50 attractive non-ice events to be held in addition to ice skating and shows to make the project a commercial success.

Former councillor Lis Solkhon said Brighton Ice Rink had been looking for sites for many years and had long been interested in Black Rock.

When the project first started, sports commentator Alan Weeks was involved and Mrs Solkhon said: "It would be great to mark his name in the new building."

A council spokesman said: "We can confirm we have received the proposals from the group involving Robin Cousins. It has been shortlisted along with three or four others.

"We can't say who the others are. It's their decision if they want to reveal themselves.

"They have all been asked to work up more detailed proposals.

"We hope to put these in a public exhibition around Christmas. People won't get to vote on them but comments will help the council decide which one to choose."