Palace Pier bosses are gambling a fortune in their battle to block the resurrection of the West Pier.

Slot machine giant the Noble Organisation's latest legal challenge to the scheme has been thrown out but last night managers pledged to pour thousands more into the fight.

They believe the National Lottery-funded restoration of the burned-out Victorian masterpiece, with associated shoreline shops and cafes, would create a direct commercial competitor threatening the survival of both piers.

Noble applied for a High Court review after government inspectors refused to hold a public inquiry into Brighton and Hove City Council's decision to grant the £30 million project planning permission in February.

Noble's application has now been thrown out.

But the company refuses to give up and has renewed the application.

If leave is granted, there will have to be a full hearing. If not, the battle is likely to rage on, with Noble seeking leave to appeal that decision.

Noble director David Biesterfield said: "What is happening with the West Pier is an absolute scandal.

"Everything is being distorted to help the West Pier. The scheme is unviable and won't work."

He said there were many issues to investigate, including whether the scheme was a restoration or a rebuild and the role of developers St Modwen.

Mr Biesterfield said: "It is costing us a fortune. We are committing substantial sums to the challenge.

"But we want to get proper scrutiny of a project that is clearly unviable."

The move has not impressed the city council, which has taken the gloves off in its opposition to the continuing legal wrangle.

A spokesman said: "Noble will obviously try anything to scupper the West Pier redevelopment and we hope they fail for the sake of Brighton and Hove's economy.

"The piers will be different types of attractions. This is like a butcher trying to shut down a baker."

Noble still hopes English Heritage will review its support for the project in the wake of the collapses and mystery fires, which in the past six months have reduced the Grade-I listed pier to a blackened hulk.

It is opposing an application for a harbour revision order, which would be needed before the pier could be restored.

It is also challenging the use of lottery money for the scheme in the European Court.

West Pier Trust chief executive Geoff Lockwood said Noble's opposition would only make the trust more determined to achieve the restoration it had planned for 30 years.

He said: "The vast majority of people are now even more determined to achieve the restoration."

In his latest report to the board, Mr Lockwood said a final restoration package would be produced by September and passed to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

During that time, the development contracts would be put out to tender.

He said: "There is no doubt whoever hired the criminal underworld to fire the pavilion and the concert hall has succeeded in denting our public support.

"The struggle to restore the West Pier has shifted from assessments of its economic viability into a battle with forces determined to undemine or frustrate democratic decisions by unacceptable methods. It has become a matter of public morality."

"I remain confident the restoration will be achieved."