Plans to build a multi-million pound cultural hub in the heart of Eastbourne have been rescued.

Borough councillors have voted to plug a £1.5 million shortfall in funds to create a centre for culture and the arts.

The £8.5 million hub project would involve relocating paintings and sculptures from the Towner Art Gallery in Borough Road to a purpose-built building at Devonshire Park.

Permanent and temporary art exhibitions, an exhibition hall, business conferences and space for community use will all be housed in the new premises.

The project was approved by Eastbourne Borough Council in July last year.

More than £4 million has already been granted from the South-East England Development Agency (Seeda) and the Arts Council.

English Heritage is expected to grant a further £1.92 million but this was still not enough to go ahead with the plan.

The council has committed to spend £800,000 and will also raise money to plug the shortfall over four years.

Council leader Graham Marsden said: "The council is committed to achieving a new cultural hub, located between the Congress Theatre and the Winter Garden.

"We are prepared to underwrite the work that needs to be done.

"We have achieved 85 per cent of the funding and we need to make sure this scheme goes forward."

To make up the shortfall, improvements to the Congress Theatre and Winter Garden, costing £1,360,000 over four years, have been put on hold.

Coun Marsden said the council's decision to underwrite the shortfall meant other funding bodies would commit cash to the project.

Work on the new centre is expected to take four years to complete.