A row over money is threatening a long-awaited new community centre in one of Sussex's most deprived areas.

Building work has been halted on the Fishersgate Community Centre in Fishersgate, near Portslade, leaving it unfinished more than three years after the project began.

Project managers CME Associates have issued three county court claims against the centre's trustees, Fishersgate Community Association (FCA), a group of local volunteers.

CME are suing for more than £66,000, including £15,000 for allegedly unpaid bills.

The trustees are counter claiming, saying they were advised to stop paying CME while their accountant investigated allegations of reported irregularities.

They are appealing for the Fishersgate community to help cover the cost of fighting the case.

If they do not defend the claims, the volunteers could each be left liable for more than £16,000.

The centre, known locally as the Dome, has been built with the help of National Lottery funding and grants from bodies, including Sport England and the Single Regeneration Budget.

At a public meeting, the trustees admitted to residents they could have done some things differently.

But they stressed they had acted in good faith, giving up their time on a voluntary basis for the community's benefit.

Spokesman Peter Avarillo said: "The Charities Commission is quite happy with us remaining in place.

"It could have kicked out our trustees and appointed receivers to take over but it sees we have legal advice and are trying to rectify the situation."

Duncan Apple, of Cheltenham-based CME, said: "We were very sad to leave the site but were forced to do so because the funds were not forthcoming as promised.

"Unfortunately, it has resulted in this legal issue.

"We are in contact with Adur District Council in an attempt to move forward."

The council recently gave the project an extra £25,000 towards building costs, bringing its contribution so far to £165,000.

Council spokesman Peter Latham described the contribution as an "act of faith".

He said: "We've been working alongside Fishersgate on this for ten years now.

"It's a great shame it has finished like this but clearly it has got to the point where only the courts can decide.

"The wrangle is entirely between Fishersgate and CME."

District councillor Mike Willson, who represents the area, said: "The trustees are volunteers who have spent a lot of time getting facilities for Fishersgate.

"They admit they are not experts in the world of business and, as they have gone along, they have had difficulties they were unaware of.

"They have had to learn. The worst they could be accused of is being naive."

Coun Willson was concerned every voting member of the FCA could be liable.

He said: "It is difficult to get the people of Fishersgate involved in activities but they did come out in force for this.

"If this is not resolved favourably for the trustees, the Dome has a precarious future as a community-led facility. There won't be others queuing up to take on the volunteers' role.

"The FCA's intention all along has been to provide a 21st Century facility for the area.

"It has got computer suites set up, breakfast clubs and playschool facilities.

"But the building is not finished. The internal fittings are missing and there is limited use of it at the moment.

"The floors are concrete and it is very messy.

"The FCA has to defend this case in the interests of the community."