IT IS with great pleasure that we can exclusively reveal today the first image of what Brighton Palace Pier’s new sign will look like.

The Argus has been at the forefront of the campaign to see “Palace” returned to the pier’s name for almost two decades.

When it was reincarnated as Brighton Pier, its owners argued it was important for marketing and promotional purposes.

They said it was in the interests of the pier.

But you, our readers, were having none of it.

Instead you were horrified at the thought of workmen removing the Palace Pier sign, the title that had graced its entrance for more than a century.

Our newsroom was flooded with furious letters and bombarded with phone calls.

In response, this newspaper informed its staff that we would continue to refer to it as the Palace Pier. The National Piers Society followed suit.

Despite the pressure put on owners The Noble Organisation, they stood firm.

Later, we picked up the pace and launched our Put The Palace Back In Our Pier campaign.

Sadly, the owners did not falter.

Until, that is, Luke Johnson took over last year. We were straight on the phone asking him the very important question: Would he consider returning the Palace to the pier?

We were over the moon when he confirmed last summer he would do just that.

He has stuck to his word and today we can reveal what the new signage will look like.

It just goes to show people power can prevail and that if a community works with its local newspaper, change can happen.