Kind-hearted bar staff opened their venue specially for jive fans after their party was cancelled when a ceiling collapsed.

Josephine Burford-Hardwick, owner of Chez Nous, was in her flat above the restaurant and bar when the phone rang on Tuesday evening.

The weekly Hot on Your Heels jive party in the upstairs function room of Circus Circus bar in Preston Road, Brighton, had not even got into full swing before part of the ceiling collapsed and plaster fell over drinkers in the bar below.

Party organiser Janneke Saebo, 30, was faced with the prospect of sending 30 revellers, including mothers from Worthing and further afield as well as Cadillac-

driving men with big quiffs, back home.

One of the group suggested she phone Chez Nous in Arundel Road, Kemp Town. The venue stunned everyone by agreeing to accommodate the party.

Mrs Saebo, a jive dancing teacher, said: "We had hardly got started at Circus Circus and there were not many people dancing, so the ceiling must have been on the way out anyway. We didn't hear anything at all upstairs.

"We just play Forties and Fifties music, not modern music with a big thumping bass. The first thing we knew about the ceiling was when the manager came upstairs looking like someone had thrown flour over his head. It was actually dust and he had lots of blood on his face from cuts.

"He told us we had to get everyone out. We rang around frantically and Chez Nous agreed to open up for us. At first they were a little dubious but they gave us the space for free, so they must have sensed the desperation in my voice."

Ms Burford-Hardwick admitted she has a real soft spot for people hit by bad luck.

She said: "We just moved some tables out of the way for the group to bop away.

"They were fantastic customers and all very well-behaved. "

No one was seriously injured at Circus Circus. The plaster had fallen over the bar, covering the room and punters' glasses with dust.

Staff at Circus Circus cleared up the rubble. The ceiling was being fixed last Thursday and Hot on Your Heels is expected to return to the venue on Tuesday.