A statue could be moved under plans to renovate a city centre garden.

The figure of comedian Max Miller could be relocated from its current spot in Brighton's Pavilion Gardens into nearby New Road as part of a proposal to restore the gardens to their former Regency-era glory.

It would mean the statue returning to its original location  - it was installed in New Road in 2005 and moved into the gardens while the road was pedestrianised in 2007.

Hedley Swain, chief executive officer of Brighton and Hove Museums which runs the Royal Pavilion, said the statue’s current location is “not ideal”.

He said: “It is in a cramped space, close to a bin area and trees. Our planning consultants recommend a better location would be back on New Road, as originally planned.

“The statue would be more easily viewed from all angles and closer to the theatre district in the city where he performed.”

However, John Henty from the Max Miller Appreciation Society signalled that members would not back any plan to move the statue to a new location.

He said: “We are in consultation on this, but we were happy with the move back in 2007 for a range of reasons.

“Our position is that we don’t want it to be moved as we feel it is in the right place now, and it cannot be legally moved without our approval.”

Mr Swain said the trust is “in consultation” with the society to discuss the statue’s future.

Brighton-born comedian Max Miller, whose nickname was “The Cheeky Chappie”, was the UK’s most popular and highest-paid variety entertainer in the 1930s. He developed his epithet for his “blue” books, comic songs and catchphrases.

This year marks 60 years since the death of the comedian at the age of 68. There is a memorial tablet dedicated to him in a garden of remembrance at Downs Crematorium in Bear Road.

Mr Henty said: “Max lived his entire life in the town and appeared at the Brighton Hippodrome more times than any other comedian or personality. He was very important to Brighton and to comedy.”