A derelict coastguard tower, sold by a council for more than £40,000, could be transformed into an office, holiday homes or a surf club by its new owners.

The impressive detached property offers fantastic sea views and has stood on Littlehampton's promenade for about 80 years.

Over the decades it has provided a vital look out post for coastguards and lifeguards.

But in recent years the three-storey building, overlooking the seafront, has fallen into disrepair and is no longer safe to enter.

It was sold in an auction at Hove Town Hall yesterday to the highest bidder - a private investor from Brighton who asked not to be named - for £42,000.

He said: "It's quirky and it was cheap. It will be a challenge but you don't get this sort of property on the market very often and Littlehampton is an up and coming area.

"To be honest we've got various plans for it. Maybe some sort of residential unit or a holiday home.

"But the other things we've thought of are a surf club, an observation tower or a gallery, although business is going to be quite seasonal down there. If not maybe some offices.

"We haven't bought it for any particular reason. It's an investment. There's going to be quite a demand for it."

Previous owners Arun District Council had speculated the historic landmark could be used as a holiday home, an artist's studio or for storage for a seafront business - or a large beach hut.

Its spiral staircase is considered too dangerous to climb and the current 15ft sq space would be too small to live in.

While there is electricity and running water, there are no toilet facilities.

There are also a number of restrictive covenants preventing major changes, including retail use which would be in competition with the town's seafront kiosks.

The tower, built in the 1920s or 1930s, was used by the Littlehampton Harbour Board until the mid 1990s.

It was then taken over by council who used it for storage until a few years ago. It has since remained empty and declared surplus to the council's requirements.

It was sold on a 75-year lease which will expire at the same time as the new coastguard station which was built next door around 1983.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are really pleased the old coastguard tower fetched this amount.

"The tower has been of no use to the council for the last few years and it was sold for a considerably higher amount than the reserve.

"It was a bit like having an antique valued and we had no idea how much it was worth or what it would fetch at auction.

"We wish the buyer every success with his future venture."

The Argus revealed in June that the Belle Tout lighthouse, situated on top of Beachy Head, is also on the market for £850,000.

Estate agents Strutt and Parker said yesterday the building was still for sale.

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