The successor to disgraced chief executive Sari Conway has been named by Eastbourne Council.

But the Tory-controlled authority's decision not to interview outside candidates was immediately attacked by Liberal Democrats, who said it would reinforce people's view of the council as "insular and backward-looking."

The council's new chief executive is Martin Ray, one of four senior council officers who brought complaints against Mrs Conway for bullying.

Mr Ray has been acting executive since February when Mrs Conway was sacked without a pay-off from her £72,000-a-year job for gross misconduct.

Liberal Democrats claimed the job should have been advertised nationally before it was given to a candidate from within council ranks.

Party parliamentary spokesman Chris Berry said: "The hiring of an internal candidate for chief executive without even advertising outside the town goes against all current good practice and is particularly unacceptable in the light of how the vacancy arose.

"It is almost beyond belief that there was no regional nor national advertising for this crucial position.

"Of course people will be interested in how Eastbourne handles this situation and the council has been found to be sadly lacking.

"The important issue for the town is to get the right person. Restricting the appointment to existing borough officers sends out all the wrong signals and reinforces people's views of Eastbourne Borough Council as insular and backward-looking."

Council leader Graham Marsden said the selection process was approved by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

He said: "It would appear that failed Parliamentary candidate Mr Berry is the laughing stock.

"Following a formal council resolution, a cross-party selection board was nominated. He is seeking to undermine the chief executive before he has even started.

"I have every confidence in Mr Ray. What we are looking for is continuity and stability and someone who can pull the team together."

Mr Ray, 51, has been director of corporate resources for the last three years and acting head of paid service since the departure of Mrs Conway.

He joined the council in 1974 as an assistant solicitor and was promoted to several posts before taking up the directorship.

He is an ardent Welsh rugby fan, lives in the Eastbourne area and has one daughter.

He said: "After working in the authority for some time this is a great opportunity.

"There are lots of challenges and I look forward to working with the corporate management team and all of the council in taking us to even better things."

The council has not confirmed Mr Ray will receive the same salary level as Mrs Conway.

A year-long inquiry ended in a damning report which concluded she had destroyed relationships with some colleagues through her abrasive style.