HUNDREDS of residents and businesses have already answered the call to save a unique seafront monument.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s crowdfunder to help kickstart the £24 million project to restore the Madeira Terraces and create up to 50 glass-fronted pods for shops, cafes, offices and hotels has got off to a record-breaking flying start.

By last night, more than 400 backers had pledged in excess of £11,000 to the scheme in addition to £100,000 from the city council.

However, there is still a long way to go to hit the target of £432,000 before the process closes at the end of November 26.

The funding will be used to restore at least three arches of the 151 within the grade II structure that runs for half a mile along the city’s seafront.

It is also hoped that by raising the money through public support, the project will stand a better chance of successfully bidding for millions of pounds more from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The fundraiser is being organised by crowdfunder specialists Spacehive who will receive around £15,000 in fees for the work if the campaign is a success.

The company has been impressed with the level of support so far - the campaign hit a Spacehive-record number of pledges in the first 48 hours.

Within five hours of its launch on Wednesday, the campaign had hit 100 backers and with 24 hours almost £6,500 had been raised from nearly 250 donors.

The crowdfunding campaign is part of a four-point plan to save the terraces.

A £4 million bid to the Coastal Community Fund for the scheme was rejected in April.

Council leader Warren Morgan said: “This is a cast iron structure embedded in concrete that has corroded over 130 years in a saltwater marine environment.

“No amount of maintenance would have prevented this at some point.

“As council leader I’m proud to fight for the restoration of the Terraces and launch this fundraising campaign to get the project started.

“We’ve put in £100,000 with £1 million in capital from i360 revenue to back it up if we hit the target.”

Howard Barden, head of the council’s tourism and venues, said: “We’re not looking to raise funds for the whole of the restoration works but we do need support to raise an initial amount to get the ball rolling.

“This campaign is about galvanising support to preserve something old while at the same time providing new business opportunities and an enhanced seafront space for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”

To pledge visit spacehive.com/madeira-terrace.