Councillors have ordered an investigation into the collapse of a £25 million seafront leisure scheme.

Last month proposals by Citygrove for the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove were ditched following a dispute with the council.

Brighton and Hove scrutiny mangement committee will examine negotiations between the present council and its predecessor, Hove Council, with developers Citygrove.

The committee has also been asked to look into the commercial arrangements which the council had hoped to achieve and to come forward with proposals for marketing the site which could be implemented in the future.

Leisure head David Fleming said: "The requests for scrutiny are welcome as there has always been such intense public interest in the site and how we can ensure both quality development and high standard public leisure facilities in Hove.

"We remain strongly committed to these objectives and the need to proceed with the work to achieve them."

Brighton and Hove scrutiny mangement committee agreed to the investigation following two separate requests.

One came from council leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones on behalf of the ruling cabinet. The second came from Labour councillors Betty Walshe, Gill Mitchell, Brian Fitch, Don Turner, Sue John, Pat Hawkes and Frieda Warman-Brown.

The seven councillors want to know how the decision was made, its implications for other services and the effect on the people of Brighton and Hove.

Coun Gwyn-Jones said: "We are disappointed that Citygrove has not been able to put forward a scheme which is considered appropriate and we are keen to move forward to improve leisure in Hove."

Citygrove was given planning permission despite objections from neighbours for a development which included a casino, cinemas, bars, restaurants and a new sports hall.

When the proposed casino operator decided to move elsewhere, Citygrove came forward with revised proposals for developing only the western part of the site and giving the council cash to renovate the old sports hall. The council did not consider that satisfactory and the deal was called off.

There have been previous attempts to redevelop part of the King Alfred site for more than 30 years.