A new market canopy has failed and could cost as much as £100,000 to put right, a public inquiry says.

A council-appointed public inquiry set up to investigate claims by traders that the canopy did not work agreed that the protective structure had been a failure.

It agreed unanimously the main objectives of the structure had not been met and it was not fit for its intended purpose.

The inquiry was set up by the council after complaints by traders at the Open Market, in London Road, Brighton, that the £125,000 canopy was too high and did not keep out wind, sun or rain from their stalls.

The working party has now recommended that new sub-structures of the same design should be erected to give more protection to the traders.

This will mean unsightly additions put up by some traders can be removed. They may be given compensation.

A special meeting of a council scrutiny board will be held next week to consider the recommendations.

The report said: "Rain, sun and wind penetrated into the market stalls. Foodstuff had been spoiled. China had been broken because of strong winds."

The working party said an objective of providing the new canopy had been to reduce vacancies but they had in fact appeared to have risen.

The cost of a new sub-structure and compensation could be as much as £100,000.