Concerns have been raised about the safety of a lift on Brighton seafront after a pulley fell on to a man as he sat in a shelter.

Council officers and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials are investigating why the heavy metal wheel came off its brackets and crashed through the ceiling on to the man's leg on Sunday.

They are also assessing the condition of the lift, which passed its last maintenance check just a few months ago at Easter.

A team of eight officers from Brighton and Hove City Council, which is responsible for the lift's maintenance, and HSE officials inspected the lift yesterday.

They were due to report back with preliminary findings to the council today.

The wheel, housed in the roof of Madeira lift in Brighton, crashed through the ceiling on to the man's leg as he sat reading a book with a friend.

He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

One seafront trader, who saw the accident but did not wish to be named, said: "The man looked in quite a lot of pain. He was quite hurt.

"Things like that just shouldn't happen.

"The council has been down here today, sticking ladders up the hole and all stood about in their suits but it's a bit late now, isn't it?

"If you are just sat there on a bench, you shouldn't expect the ceiling to suddenly collapse on your head.

"It has got to raise some questions about safety and how well it has been maintained."

A council spokeswoman said the council was taking the incident seriously.

She said the council staff had now cleared away the loose timber and made the area safe.

She said: "The council is concerned about this incident although the lift does undergo regular maintenance checks. It had its last check at Easter, which it passed.

"Staff are working with the HSE and are assessing the condition of the lift and assessing possible causes of this incident."