A threatened sea cadets unit has found a new home just weeks before it has to quit its base.

Hove sea cadets will leave their headquarters at Maxwell Wharf at Basin Road North, Shoreham Harbour, next month.

They will set up a temporary base at the Army Cadets' drill hall in Marmion Road, Hove.

But they will still be allowed to store some of their equipment and have access to the water at Maxwell Wharf.

The move brings to an end uncertainty about the unit's future after 60 years in Hove.

It followed the sale of the site by the Ministry of Defence in 1998, to shipping company Atlantic Marine.

The cadets were allowed to stay on for three years at a peppercorn rent, but Atlantic Marine now wants to develop the site as offices.

Joe Kirk, chairman of the cadets, said: "The present site had plenty of space and safe boating in the harbour and we still hope to use the jetty.

"The new headquarters, although basically sound, is short of storage space and lacks boating and outdoor facilities."

Mr Kirk said that the unit sees this as an interim move to a low-cost base from which to raise funds for a permanent, owned facility.

"We receive no funding from central or local government and rely heavily on fundraising and donations," he added "We have set ourselves a target of raising £100,000 towards a permanent headquarters by 2003."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin who was involved in negotiations between Atlantic Marine and the cadets said: "This is positive news and I am sure the sea cadets will quickly settle in to their new home.

"I will be happy to give them my full backing."