A mystery entrepreneur is to offer traders prime city centre pitches for a peppercorn rent.

The businessman, who is remaining anonymous, is converting the former post office in Ship Street, Brighton, into more than 30 temporary shops and studios to bring in some cash while he decides on the ultimate future of the site.

Rent will start at a rock bottom £100 a week for the smaller units, going up to a maximum of £350 - including insurance, premiums and bills.

In prime locations such as Duke Street and the North Laine, a 400sqft unit costs about £55,000 a year in rent alone.

The market will be open by mid-December and could be trading for several months. The pitches are likely to be snapped up by small businesses and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

A waiting list has already been established.

Tim Regan, of property agent Ellis and Partners, which managed the sale and is overseeing the conversions, said: "We haven't even begun advertising properly yet but word is getting out and traders are contacting us.

"There is very little available shop space in the city centre and none of it is affordable, so these units are a fantastic opportunity for small traders to get started."

The building covers 50,000sqft and has a large central hall, a maze of back rooms and toilets. A range of secure shops, stalls, kiosks and craft rooms are planned.

Mr Regan said: "We're keeping a completely open mind as to their use.

"Apart from perishables like fresh meat, fish and vegetables, the units could be used to sell anything.

The Post Office sold the Ship Street site in August for a sum thought to be considerably more than the asking price of £3 million.

Though the plans are good news for traders and shoppers, many are angry about the loss of another post office in the city.

At a public meeting in Hove Town Hall on Monday, members of the public told Post Office South East manager Paul Simmonds how the closures were having a dire impact on elderly people and single parent families.

Conservative parliamentary candidate Nicholas Boles, who has been leading the campaign to save post offices, said: "It is clear from this new development and many others like it the idea of the post office as a public service and community centre is being severely challenged.

"For many elderly people going to collect their pension is a reason to get dressed, go out and meet friends.

"Many now have to spend £7 of their pension paying a home help to go to get it for them.

"We have lost far too many post offices in Brighton and Hove and we must certainly not lose any more."