A popular community magazine written and published by residents of a deprived area has been forced to close because of lack of funding.

The glossy Phoenix magazine, which is distributed free to households in east Brighton, published its last edition this month.

The bi-monthly magazine was considered a key communication tool for the housing estates of east Brighton, including Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb.

The magazine, which started in 1999, produced 34 editions containing glossy photographs and news from the estates, youth news and information.

The publication, which was delivered by residents to more than 7,000 homes, received three grants totalling £380,000 from Government-funded regeneration organisation eb4u to keep it running.

Despite this, the magazine's writers were not afraid to aim criticism at eb4u on occasion.

The magazine was aiming to establish itself as a social enterprise and get funding from other sources but failed.

Jennifer Wakeham, general manager, wrote her last editorial in this month's edition and thanked everyone who had written for the magazine.

She said: "I have enjoyed immensely my time volunteering, then becoming paid staff working with the Phoenix team, they are a terrific bunch and we have been through a lot over the last six years together."