The mystery of the missing African emperor's crown has been solved by the Argus.

A 3ft-high plaque bearing a crown surrounded by laurel leaves became a landmark when it was installed on the front of the famous Warnes Hotel in Worthing after Abyssinian ruler Haile Selassie stayed there for six weeks in 1936.

Selassie fled to England after Italian troops invaded his country, now Ethiopia.

The Warnes closed down in 1985 and two years later, in October 1987, it was destroyed in a fire.

The hotel remained a scaffold-shrouded eyesore on the seafront near Splash Point until the early Nineties, when demolition gangs moved in.

Since then, the site has been used as a car park, but now proposals for a new complex containing 79 flats have been submitted to town planners by Worthing firm Roffey Builders.

The scheme has rejuvenated interest in the Warnes and people started to ask: "What happened to the famous, old crown?"

Council planning officer Jack Hegarty said: "I think the developer has got it and he is going to put it back, but I am not totally sure. I would like to see it back on the front of the new building."

Borough conservation officer David Frost said: "I have heard it is in store, but exactly where it is, I don't know."

Ian Cheal, managing director of Roffey Builders, said: "Somebody in Worthing does have it but I don't know who."

He pledged if the crown was found, it would take pride of place on the new building.

The Argus delved into its files and found a photograph of the crown revealing it was in the possession of former Worthing Society conservation group member John Head.

He salvaged the relic from the ruins in 1992 and stored it in his shed for safe-keeping.

Robert Elleray, chairman of the Worthing Society, said he would be happy to hand the crown over to the developers but it would require restoration.

He said: "It has been carefully looked after and wrapped up, but there are one or two spots of rust which need some attention."

If planners approve the new scheme, work could start later this year, with a completion 18 months later.

Mr Cheal said: "We want to pick up on a number of aspects of the Warnes, which has had a very historical past."

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