Lib Dem party president Simon Hughes has expressed his disgust at the state of Hove seafront.

Mr Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, visited Brighton and Hove yesterday in the run-up to this week's local elections.

Touring with city Liberal Democrat hopefuls, he said the neglected bandstand which he saw during last year's party conference in Brighton continued to be a "blight" on the area.

He helped the local party members collect signatures from members of the public calling for the bandstand to be renovated.

He said: "When I was last here I was told councillors were going to sort it out. It is obviously still in the decayed state it was. We have got to have action this year."

Some parts of the seafront had improved, he said, but visitors and residents were still having to put up with an eyesore round the Victorian bandstand. He said: "There is no excuse for it to be delayed for so long."

Brighton and Hove City Council has said it will not find out until September whether its Lottery grant application to restore the Grade II listed Birdcage Bandstand, derelict for more than 30 years, has been successful.

Paul Elgood, who until now has been ward councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide, said: "We are demanding action from the council in trying to sort the business out this summer so we don't have to go for another summer without the bandstand.

"We are also highlighting what we think is quite serious neglect of parts of the seafront. Some parts are fantastic, such as the children's play area, which we supported."

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