A TEENAGER has found a multi-million pound investor to back his petition to bring a permanent ice rink back to Brighton and Hove.

Sonny Keywood has been lobbying for more than a year to get an ice rink in his city and has taken a giant step towards seeing his dream become a reality.

The 13-year-old has managed to lure an investor who has national experience in building ice rinks and would be willing to meet councillors if a plot of land became available.

At the moment, the plucky ice hockey player has to make the 100-mile round trip to play and train for Guildford Flames and would love to see a revival of the Brighton Tigers.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Warren Morgan has publicly backed Sonny’s mission, and now the youngster has found a money-man to back the pipeline plans.

The Cardinal Newman student said: “It’s great news and hopefully my dream will now come true.

“I would like to thank Warren Morgan for taking the time and interest in my campaign to bring back an ice rink to Brighton and to revive Brighton Tigers Ice Hockey Team.

“I have a potential investor so if anyone knows of a suitable venue please let me know via email and I will pass it on.

“So let's get our skates on and bring back the legacy.”

His campaign has garnered mass support including a special reply from Buckingham Palace.

Sonny did not get any luck when he wrote to then Mayor of Brighton and Hove Denise Cobb in November 2014, so went straight to the top by writing to the Queen without his parents knowing.

Her Majesty duly responded and his letter – highlighting the need for an ice rink in the city – was passed on to the secretary of state for communities and local government Eric Pickles.

Proud mum Lynn Keywood said: “I think it’s brilliant because we have got a possible investor anyway who should be contacting the council, so hopefully if they can find a venue or a bit of land then these investors will get involved.

“We’ve been looking for a venue but we can’t find anything, but there’s nothing here.

“Warren Morgan has always backed the appeal and has kept in touch

“I call him an English gentleman, he’s true to his word and he’s backed Sonny all the way.”

Cllr Morgan will discuss the issue at full council tonight and has said a permanent ice rink would only be plausible if a site, a developer and an investor surfaced.