Sussex Police have reapplied for permission to build a custody centre in Eastbourne after their original plans fell apart.

Approval was given last June for a centre to be built on land opposite Dallington Road, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, despite a protest petition carrying more than 1,500 names.

But the police failed to strike a deal with the landowners so the force has submitted a fresh set of plans for a 2.1-acre site off Lottbridge Drove.

The building - partly on one storey and partly on two - would be opposite a Volvo car showroom and have 18 cells and three juvenile detention rooms.

An average of 17 suspects a day would pass through the centre, with an average stay of six hours, but the existing police station in Grove Road would remain.

The police are setting up custody centres after a review of existing facilities concluded that centralisation at six towns across Sussex would be more efficient.

Centres at Hastings and Crawley have already been developed while centres at Brighton, Chichester and Worthing are also being looked at.

The force believes the proposed centre in Eastbourne, which would create six jobs, would be less intrusive than the Hampden Park site, which provoked concern from residents about suspects stalking their streets.

Although the plans have gone out to public consultation, no responses have been received by planning officers at Eastbourne Borough Council.

They are recommending councillors to approve the plan when they meet on Tuesday.