Some years ago, readers of The Argus were invited to find the most unsightly buildings in Sussex.

The list of nominations included well-known landmarks such as the Kingswest Centre on Brighton seafront and, on a smaller scale, the Chequer Mead Arts Centre in East Grinstead, described as looking like a giant packing case.

I had no hesitation in suggesting the ugliest building was a derelict-looking former factory at the lower end of Coombe Road, Brighton.

In spite of having hundreds of broken window panes, it was still in use as a tyre warehouse.

Decades of neglect had resulted in grime from traffic on the nearby Lewes Road eroding the whole of the structure, giving it a greyness reminiscent of a battle zone or horror movie location.

For almost a year, the crumbling edifice was hidden by scaffolding and plastic sheeting. The wraps were recently removed to reveal the stunning new facade in all its decorative splendour.

The ugly duckling had indeed turned into the most beautiful of swans - a triumph for the restorers and a sparkling new gem in the city's architectural heritage.

-Michael Parker, Lewes Road, Brighton