A club which claims to house the ghost of movie legend Cary Grant will have a new owner next month.

The new proprietor of the Rottingdean Club, Jo Pratt, cannot wait to meet the ghost of the actor who died in 1986 aged 82.

The Hollywood star once tried to buy the club after falling in love with the village and the ambience of the building.

His ghost started appearing to the present owners, the Goodchild family, about 18 months after his death.

Di Goodchild, who ran the club for many years with her husband Don, said: "He's not the frightening sort of ghost at all. He's a lovely warm presence."

Jo, a supply teacher in business studies, said: "I was told about the ghost, and I can't wait to meet him.

"If a place has a ghost you can't get better than the ghost of Cary Grant."

The lease of the club in the Grade II- listed building has been sold at close to the £125,000 asking price.

The freehold is owned by the Wellington Pub Company.

Jo will not be putting up membership fees for the next year and will not be making immediate changes to the club or its country club feel. She is looking for a new chef.

She said: "I want to get to know as many members as possible before making any changes."

The Goodchild family has been involved in the club since 1974, first with Diane and Don. They then handed over the lease to their son Jeremy and his partner Colin Bradshaw in 1994.