A crumbling leisure centre looks like a fire station and smells like a drain, a meeting heard last night.

People living near the King Alfred complex in Hove told councillors what they wanted to see on the site when it is redeveloped.

A packed meeting of the Seafield Residents Association told councillor Simon Battle and the council's project manager for the site that they want sport and swimming to be at the heart of any new centre.

They told him the present building looks like a run-down fire station and smells of drainage late in the day.

But they said they like the affordability and range of facilities the King Alfred provides.

Residents at the meeting at the Seaholme Hotel said they wanted the new complex to have high quality architecture and suggested a design competition.

They said they did not want to see nightclubs or a casino as the commercial option to help fund the redevelopment.

There was a mixed response to suggestions that housing should be included in the scheme.

Coun Battle said: "It is clear that people living close to the site want improved sports and swimming facilities to be at the heart of any new development.

"I think there is a realisation that this can only be realised with an enabling commercial development of some kind, with housing being a new option.

"It will be interesting to see what emerges from the forthcoming consultation process."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin has already said it is time the crumbling leisure centre is pulled down before it falls down.

He would like to see an Olympic standard swimming pool and an ice arena.

The council hopes to publish a planning brief for the site next summer.

An earlier scheme which included a multiplex cinema and casino fell through.