A charity dance will be held for the last time because of changes to rules about hiring a town hall.

Hove Lions has held its autumn buffet dance at Hove Town Hall for more than 25 years to raise money for Sussex charities.

Organisers say a change in council rules will make the 35th annual dance, to be held later this month, the last.

Today the Hove Centre at the town hall becomes licensed premises.

This means it will employ a company to run all bars instead of having to apply for occasional licences, using outside bar suppliers.

To comply with health and safety regulations, caterers have to be approved by the council and stewards, costing £5 an hour, have to paid for all public events.

Hove Lions' president Mike Koscian said: "Profits from the bar, which we used to run ourselves, raised the most money for charitable causes. The hall is a wonderful venue but this means the event is no longer viable because we would raise so much less.

"The town hall is a civic building but these rules could put it out of reach of all but the largest of organisations."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said licensing changes had been made on police advice but event organisers could still provide their own catering if they wanted.

She said: "We have explained to Hove Lions in a letter we will be happy to consider future proposals from it, as long as its caterers can produce health and safety certification to show that food is being professionally handled to prevent health risks.

"The Hove Centre is let at very competitive rates compared to other similar venues but we also have a duty to the council tax payer to make sure our rates cover the running costs."

Last year, the Lions' dance, with a sit-down buffet and bar for about 200 people, raised about £2,000.

Mr Koscian said: "We have been looking for other venues but with no real success. If we held it at the town hall we would not lose money but we wouldn't make any either, which is the whole point. Charities will miss out."

The final dance, renamed The Last Of The Autumn Wine and featuring music from a five-piece band, will be held on October 27 at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced £15, are available by phoning Colin or Val Beard on 01273 554945.