Town leaders in Hastings have quashed rumours that an historic seaside building is to close.

Councillor Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, issued a statement after fears were expressed over the future of St Mary in the Castle, the church and arts venue.

More than 150 people involved with the centre attended a meeting last week and many attacked the council, blaming a possible closure on lack of investment.

Members of the Friends of St Mary's in the Castle (Fosmic) group voted to give up the running of the centre and hand control back to the council.

But Coun Birch hit back at claims of underfunding and said the council's first priority was the maintenance and preservation of the building.

He said: "The council invested more than £1 million to support the preservation of St Mary's on behalf of the people of the town and keeping up the building is our first consideration.

"The council's own survey shows that £250,000 worth of maintenance work is required on this building over the next ten years.

"Unfortunately, because of the financial difficulties faced by Fosmic with the running of an arts centre they have not been putting money aside for maintenance over the last few years."

Coun Birch said he was disappointed with the decision made by the group to give up the hands-on management of the centre but vowed to stop the building slipping into decline.