Drinkers from a "forgotten" community are bitter because the owners have not reopened their local after last year's floods.

They sent a deputation to Brighton and Hove City Council last night asking it to put pressure on Inn Business.

The White Admiral pub in Bevendean closed after the floods last winter.

Deputation leader Peter Mack, of Bodiam Avenue, said the council should have forced the company to reopen the pub and asked if it was breaking the terms of its lease by not having proper insurance on the building.

He alleged the company had made it almost impossible for anyone else to run the pub by putting too high a price on the tenancy.

Now it is to be pulled down and the site used for housing.

Bevendean Social Club was also being replaced by homes. Mr Mack asked: "Why does it seem that Bevendean is becoming the forgotten community with no facilities?

"Other estates such as Coldean, Moulsecoomb and Whitehawk have pubs and social clubs.

"All we ask is that the council gets Inn Business to reopen our community pub for everyone on our estate to enjoy."

Deputy council leader Jackie Lythell said the courts were unlikely to back the council in any attempt to force the reopening of the pub.

She said tenants were not forced to take out costly insurance and Inn Business had not in any way broken its lease. The council had no control over what it did to sub-let the site.

Ward councillors would liaise with residents to see if there was any solution to the lack of community meeting places, she said.