When the derelict West Pier in Brighton was promised millions of pounds in National Lottery cash, it seemed that its problems were over.

Since then, two private sector partners have come and gone. Now the West Pier Trust will want the third time to be right as well as lucky.

The winding up of the Prestbury Group, main financial backers of the last consortium, was bad news for boxer Chris Eubank and builder John Regan, who have a genuine desire to save the pier.

But the St Modwen Group, which is now involved, is headed by Stan Clark, an old-fashioned entrepreneur with a proven record of getting things done.

After successes in reviving the racecourses at Uttoxeter and Newcastle, Mr Clark has already worked wonders with the decrepit hilltop course at Brighton.

St Modwen is also planning to revive the dismal Woodingdean Industrial Estate with high-tech industry. It is a company that really believes Brighton and Hove is the Place to Be.

Restoring the pier will be one of the biggest challenges it has yet faced. But it could also yield the greatest prize.

The seafront between the piers has already been successfully renovated. The Palace (now Brighton) Pier is booming. A restored West Pier could be good for St Modwen and even better for Brighton.

Fitting tribute Prime Minister Tony Blair gave his personal seal of approval to a memorial for PC Jeff Tooley, killed when a driver failed to stop for a speed check.

The granite memorial will be a permanent reminder to everyone travelling on the A259 of the sacrifices too many police officers make on our behalf.

Mr Blair is also now aware of another even more important memorial to PC Tooley which is in the hands of his Parliamentary candidates.

This is to strengthen the law so that longer prison sentences can be imposed on those who cause death through their reckless driving.

Sore head Tony Blair must have been feeling sore when in Sussex yesterday at the news of his 16-year-old son's arrest in London.

But not half as sore as Euan Blair's head must have been after allegedly being found drunk and incapable in Leicester Square.

Every parent can sympathise with the Prime Minister in his embarrassing predicament and opponents should beware of jumping on a political bandwagon.

Meanwhile, Euan, who had been celebrating the end of his GCSE exams, needs to get on a wagon - of a different sort.