A campaigner today blamed councillors for the collapse of a deal aimed at giving a new lease of life to the Royal Hippodrome theatre.

Roy Jubb said Eastbourne Borough Council had not co-operated with an entrepreneur offering to buy and refurbish the theatre in a £1 million deal.

Businesswoman Patricia Venton had offered to invest but the deal fell though when the council could not meet her deadline of last Friday.

She then withdrew her offer, leaving the future of the theatre uncertain.

Mr Jubb said: "Mrs Venton offered to do this in April and the council has been dragging its feet since then.

"She told me she wanted to get the work done by the next summer season. The theatre needs a lot of money spent on it and this has been stopped in not accepting the offer.

"They are never going to get the amount of money they need. I don't understand it - people are not queuing up to buy theatres.

"Both Mrs Venton and I are very sad. We spent months in negotiations. "

Council leader Graham Marsden said the deadline set by Mrs Venton had posed difficulties.

He added: "Various sale arrangements were considered with all parties involved.

"While it was hoped these discussions could be concluded, the deadline required by the proposed purchasers prevented all options being fully explored.