Work to repair a collapsed arch beneath the seafront will be finished by the end of the month.

Brighton and Hove City Council has announced the work to King’s Road, at the junction with West Street, Brighton, will be finished by the end of Thursday.

The road partially collapsed on April 25 last year following work being done in the Fortune of War pub – which is underneath the road.

There have been roadworks and contraflow systems in place ever since with a number of delays putting the work back.

Engineers discovered the hole was caused by the failure of historic alterations to the structure, which provided a fire escape route between a fish and chip shop on King’s Road and the Fortune of War pub.

Further inspections also revealed structural deterioration in the adjacent Life Bar.

The local authority said strengthening and repair work would continue – but that work would not require the continued closure of part of the road.

Work is continuing to rebuild a row of 33 new seafront arches beneath the A259 further west. This is part of a large, long term investment programme to restore the arches. The work requires the upper promenade and cycle lane to be closed along a 100m stretch. The road itself is unaffected.

Lead councillor for transport Ian Davey said: “It was an unlucky co-incidence that the Fortune of War hole appeared at the same time we were rebuilding the arches further west. “But it demonstrates how important it is to renew the arches and this is the first time the council has really bitten the bullet on this since they were built over 100 years ago. “Without the works we’re doing now, such collapses would become common and road closures more regular.”

Last week councillors agreed to back a £100 million 10 year plan to help preserve the seafront for generations to come.