A multi-million pound city centre development on a site which has been empty 50 years has been further delayed.

Work was due to start last month on the Jubilee Street site between North Road and Church Street in Brighton.

But it has now been delayed two or three months.

The long-awaited scheme includes a new central library, a square, offices, shops, a doctor's surgery, cafes, housing and a hotel.

There have been suggestions delays have been caused by lawyers acting for Brighton and Hove City Council.

But a council spokesman said: "It's not a delay caused by the legal team. We're still involved in discussions with the developers on fine points of detail on the project.

"These relate to a number of small, mainly technical issues.

"We expect to have tied these up by the end of March, with work starting in April or early May and finishing two years later.

"It's nothing sinister. It's just a big, complex project and things are taking a little longer than expected."