The owner of Bognor Pier owner has threatened to ground the town's famous Birdmen in a row over a free music festival.

John Ayres has threatened to ban competitors from making their leap from his pier if a deal is not struck.

The move follows a row over the giant Rox festival which is staged on several seafront stages, one of them close to the pier.

Last year's event led to a flood of complaints after an estimated 60,000 people descended on the town.

Mr Ayres says he will stop people jumping from his pier on August 11 unless the stage is moved.

The Birdman event has already attracted entrants from America, Japan and Austria - all hoping to scoop the £25,000 prize.

The festival is due to take place from August 2 to 4. The organisers have applied to expand the event to take in more of the seafront.

Mr Ayres, who runs a night club on the pier, has told Arun District Council the positioning of a stage and extra toilets near the pier has safety implications because the area is a meeting point for clubbers in the event of an emergency.

He says: "The noise from the stage is so great any customers cannot be heard. We are also obliged to employ more security staff in order to protect our property and staff.

"I feel so strongly about this that unless some form of compromise can be made I will have to refuse permission for the pier to be used for the Birdman event."

The threat to the Birdman event will be discussed by the council's Cabinet on Wednesday, when it meets to approve final details of Rox.

Today Rox organiser Steve Goodheart said meetings were still taking place with seafront traders to make sure the festival was a success.

He added: "The talks are ongoing and I am sure there will be a positive outcome that will benefit the whole area."

Last year tourism experts estimated that Rox had been worth £2 million to the local shops and businesses.