A row has broken out over the placing of a statue of legendary comic entertainer Max Miller.

In May 2005 a bronze life-size statue was unveiled of the Brighton-born star in the city's North Road.

It was removed for major work along New Road and was to be re-sited outside the main entrance to the Brighton Dome.

However, the Dome has objected to the plan.

Chief executive of the Brighton Dome Nick Dodds told The Argus: "It is entirely on health and safety grounds.

"The idea was to put it back outside the box office door area on New Road.

"We really didn't want to have that obstruction because it's a very busy part of the Dome box office."

Mr Dodds also thought it was not appropriate to place the statue outside a building Max Miller had no association with and suggested a site closer to the Palace Pier or the Hippodrome.

This has not gone down well with members of Brighton's Max Miller Appreciation Society, who raised money to pay for the statue.

Chairman and former radio presenter John Henty said: "These objections are clearly not shared by the mayor, MPs, senior councillors, our members and the people of Brighton who remember him."

Central Hove Conservative councillor Averil Older, a member of the Max Miller Appreciation Society, said: "I'm very angry about this because it was more or less agreed there was no objection from highways officers so this came as a bit of a surprise to the society, which has been working very hard with the council for some time.

"A new image is wanted for New Road and the council is spending a lot of money on the works. Maybe Max Miller does not fit in with the ethos of New Road."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper, also a member of the society, said: "Many theatrical people come to live here and it is great but few are attached to Brighton throughout their careers as Max Miller was.

"The Arts Commission and Nick Dodds have done great things for the city but it would be wrong if they were simply to follow current fashion."

Mr Lepper added the statue would be opposite the site of a former music hall, the Brighton Empire, in New Road, a place where Miller often performed.

It was replaced by an office block in the Sixties.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "Officers are gathering the views of local people, including the Dome, for a report to the licensing committee for them to make a decision.

"No date has been fixed for that, but it's hoped to be as soon as possible.

"It's the council's intention that the statue returns to a prominent position in the city associated with Max."