A compromise has been reached in the row over the placing of a statue of legendary comic entertainer Max Miller.

The bronze life-sized depiction of the Brighton-born star will remain in New Road, the hub of the city's theatre and entertainments district, but not in the original spot proposed.

It was unveiled in North Road in May 2005 but later removed for major work along New Road.

It was to have been resited outside the main entrance to the Pavilion Theatre, part of the Brighton Dome.

The Dome objected to these plans because it would obstruct the busy entrance to the box office and stage door.

Chief executive Nick Dodds also said it was not appropriate to place the statue outside a building which Max Miller had no association with.

He suggested a site closer to the Palace Pier or the Hippodrome.

These suggestions did not go down well with members of Brighton's Max Miller Appreciation Society, who raised money to pay for the statue and said he had connections to the area.

At a meeting of the city council licensing committee yesterday, it was agreed to site the statue elsewhere in New Road, although an exact location has yet to be decided.

Councillor Roy Pennington, who chaired the meeting, said: "It was a difficult decision because of problems of street clutter and the need to find a place where the statue was not going to get in the way of pedestrians.

"But I am happy to have come to a decision which has pleased all parties."

Mr Dodds said: "I am convinced that a sensible compromise has been reached.

"I am happy that it won't be just outside the stage door of the Pavilion Theatre, which would have been very difficult for fire regulations and deliveries."

Jeanne Lepper of the Max Miller Appreciation Society said: "We are delighted that Max will return to the place we feel very strongly is his home.

"He is the only star that was born, performed and died in Brighton and was the leading musical artist of his time - all today's theatres owe a huge debt to him."