A blue plaque has been erected outside the 14th Century seaside bolthole of author Charles Dickens.

It was unveiled yesterday at Eastbourne's oldest house, the Pilgrims in Borough Lane, Old Town, by Eastbourne Dickensians' chairman Vera Banwell-Clode.

Dickens visited the house several times in the 1830s to escape from London. It was rented for several summers by the Victorian artist Augustus Egg, a close friend of Dickens.

Dickens, Egg and Holman Hunt, the artist behind The Light Of The World painting, used to meet at Pilgrims to take part in amateur performances at the Lamb Inn opposite.

They also performed at the wooden theatre in South Street and the trio would enjoy refreshments at what is now called the Dickens Tea Rooms.

The plaque was the idea of 95-year-old Mrs Banwell-Clode who later this year relinquishes the chairmanship post.

Graham Household, owner of Pilgrims for 17 years said: "We were fully aware of Dickens' association with the house but were surprised when Mrs Banwell-Clode approached us with her proposal, which we have been delighted to back.

"Eastbourne has a history to be proud of and this will make people more aware of the interest Dickens and his friends had in our town.

"Until now, few people here were aware of this."