A notorious seafront eyesore will be given its first makeover in years this summer.

Work to bring Embassy Court in Kings Road, Brighton, back to its original art deco splendour is expected to start in July after leaseholders agreed to back a £4.5 million restoration.

Architects recruited by design guru Sir Terence Conran, backed by residents' company Bluestorm, are to replace decaying window frames and crumbling concrete will be repaired.

Leaseholders of the building's 72 flats will have to pay an average of about £55,000 for the work, which is expected to take a year.

The architects have to obtain listed building consent but that is not expected to be a major hurdle.

Scaffolding will cover the outside during the work which includes giving the exterior a new coat of paint to return it to its original glossy white.

Work inside includes new lifts and overhauling the electricity, plumbing, heating and hot water systems.

Developers and residents leading the project have also suggested additions to the building, such as swimming pools, a restaurant, art gallery and a museum.

Emma Jinks, who chairs Bluestorm, said leaseholders were now behind the restoration plans, which should end years of uncertainty.

She said: "It is the key 20th Century building in Brighton."

Embassy Court was designed by renowned architect Wells Coates as Brighton's first skyscraper.

It fell into disrepair after many flats were taken over by absentee landlords in the Seventies and Eighties.

Rowena Easton, a director of Bluestorm, is calling for help from people who remember what the building was like almost 60 years ago.

Anyone with any information should call her on 01273 220880.