Urgent steps are to be taken to preserve a historic building and stop it from collapsing.

For several years, Brighton and Hove Council has been concerned about the condition of the derelict court house in Brunswick Street East, Brighton.

Next Wednesday, proposals will be put to a planning committee recommending it serve an emergency repairs notice on the owners of the building.

This could mean the council will have to carry out the work and recover the cost from the owner after completion of the work.

The Grade I listed house was built in the early nineteenth century as part of the Brunswick estate.

In November, an application to demolish the building and re-develop it for housing was refused by the committee.

Roger Dowty, conservation officer, said: "The property is in extremely poor condition.

"It is saturated with water and unsuitable for habitation in its current condition.

"Without urgent action, it is likely to deteriorate so quickly as to be beyond repair.

"Already, its rescue will require a good deal of reconstruction of the internal walls, floors and the roof."

Mr Dowty said the building was connected with a grander house in Brunswick Square and appears to have provided a picture gallery for it.

But residents say it was used as a court house and is of great historic importance to the area.

Paul Elgood, local Liberal Democrat councillor, said: "The frame of the building is in a very dangerous state and the historic Brunswick court house could be lost forever.

"The situation for the building is desperate and this welcome move comes not a moment too soon.

"It really has been a case of acting now or losing part of the historic heritage of Brunswick forever."