The father of a disabled man is claiming victory in his two-year fight to improve access at a concert venue.

Richard Barratt, of King's Road, South Lancing, said nights out at the Brighton Centre with his son, Mark, 30, who is confined to a wheelchair, have been ruined because he has not been able to see the stage as soon as the crowds stand up in the front rows.

The problem has spoilt a string of concerts for Mark, a Tom Jones and Jools Holland fan who has cerebral palsy and lives at St Giles Residential Home for Handicapped People in Lancing.

Mr Barratt said he had been fighting for two years to push the centre management into creating a permanent ramp for the disabled so they could see the stage throughout all shows.

Mr Barratt said: "You can't stop people standing up and the bands encourage it, saying 'come on, let's have a party, get up and dance', but that is no good if it just crowds people in wheelchairs.

"The disabled have been just shovelled to the right-hand side of the stage and when the first person stands up, people like Mark might as well forget the whole concert.

"He's been left whirling round in his wheelchair in frustration.

"The staff are excellent, they help the disabled as much as they can, but it's the facilities which spoil things."

Mr Barratt said there was never a problem at standing shows when front-row seats were taken out because the management provided a special ramp.

Steve Piper, head of venues for the Brighton Centre, admitted disabled facilities were not good enough but said safety regulations in the past have prevented the venue from creating a permanent fixture for the disabled at seated shows. But he said changes in the law would now allow more flexibility.

He said: "We have been in discussions about the weaknesses in our provision for the disabled at the Brighton Centre and how to solve them."

Centre management will now apply for funding from Brighton and Hove Council to make the changes and work could start soon after April next year.