A popular beach is to re-open after being closed for a year on safety grounds.

Repairs are being made at Newhaven West Beach and expected to be finished by Easter.

The public has been banned from going on the sandy shore since last April because the crumbling back wall was thought too dangerous.

Newhaven Ports and Properties (NPP), which owns the beach, said chunks of masonry were falling and could cause injuries.

It cordoned off the beach for the first time since the Second World War.

Newhaven town councillor Carla Butler led a campaign to get West Beach re-opened and was delighted it could happen within days.

She has been in contact with NPP safety manager Mike Smith who said the work would be completed as soon as possible.

Steps to the beach are being resurfaced, railings added and improvements made to the car park.

The area directly next to the wall will remain sealed off and a beach guard employed to keep people away from it.

Coun Butler said: "I'm ecstatic. This is a really great thing for the town.

"People were extremely worried when the beach was closed and have been wanting it to re-open for a long time. It's something they've felt very strongly about.

"NPP have listened to the concerns of local residents and is re-opening this much-loved public space. It's fantastic news. "Newhaven can boast the only sandy beach for many miles."

More than 1,000 people signed a Save Our Sands petition when the beach was shut.

It encouraged the company to re-open the beach in time for summer but the work was not done.

Many could not understand why it was closed in the first place. They claimed the cracks in the wall were no worse than they had been for years.

Councillor David Rogers said: "A year after the harbour owners effectively closed our sandy beach - much loved by generations of Newhaveners and by visitors - they have done a U-turn and agreed to re-open it soon with some safety precautions.

Mayor Rod Main thanked campaigners for keeping the pressure on.

He added: "This is one tourist attraction that local people do want."

No-one from NPP was available to speak to The Argus.