The millionaire who rescued Hastings Pier five years ago has intervened in an attempt to get the closed attraction reopened within three weeks.

Ian Stuart issued an ultimatum to Hastings Borough Council: "Give me three weeks and £100,000, leave me to get on with it and I will have it back open."

Mr Stuart, 55, has offered to fly from his Panama home to personally oversee repairs to the decaying structure, which was closed three weeks ago after a council inspection found it was in danger of collapsing.

The council claims it will cost at least £1 million to erect a temporary support to make the pier safe.

Mr Stuart acts as adviser to Ravenclaw the company he sold the pier to after investing £2 million in its restoration in 2000. He bought the pier after its previous owners went bust and carried out extensive refurbishment.

He said: "I find the idea of making temporary repairs to the five steel supports totally unacceptable. This is a jewel in the crown for Hastings and, as such, a patch-up should never be undertaken except in extreme conditions, to which this does not apply.

"I will personally guarantee the cost of replacing the five steel beams if needed and any connecting deck beams and will have contractors start the day after it is agreed with the council and the owners.

"I will ask the council to contribute the first £100,000 of any costs but I will not ask for any payment until they have inspected the work after completion and will also give them 60 days credit."

He demanded the council waive any bureaucracy in the interests of getting the job done quickly.

Mr Stuart added: "There should be no interference from any council engineers during repairs. There should also be a general acceptance that work will go on around the clock some nights.

"I cannot see why the offer cannot be accepted on Tuesday and work start immediately.

A Hastings Borough Council spokeswoman said the offer from Mr Stuart had been received and the authority will hold talks with him.

She said the council would issue a statement on the outcome of the talks in the next few days.

Hastings Borough Council closed most of the pier on 16 June over safety concerns.

It is shut from the main entrance building outwards, pending a court hearing on 9 August into an emergency closure application under the Building Act 1984.