Eastbourne Pier was evacuated on Sunday after a fire broke out at the popular seafront attraction.
Firefighters were called to the pier at around 10.24am on Sunday, August 30, following reports of a fire.
Six fire crews attended the incident, alongside an aerial ladder platform and a support pump. Firefighters managed to extinguish the main fire at around 11.20am, although crews remained at the scene to deal with hotspots.
The pier was evacuated while emergency services dealt with the incident. No casualties were reported.
Gas and electricity supplies to the pier were also isolated as a precaution.
The cause of the fire was later confirmed to have been accidental.
The incident comes just over a decade after a major fire caused significant damage to Eastbourne Pier in 2014, when around a third of the Grade II* listed structure was destroyed.
The latest fire is likely to raise questions for businesses operating from the pier, as well as the potential impact on visitors and Eastbourne’s tourism economy.
Eastbourne Pier is one of the town’s best-known attractions and attracts visitors throughout the year, making any disruption potentially significant for businesses that rely on the seafront’s tourism trade.
There has been no indication that the latest incident caused the same level of damage as the 2014 fire.
Further information about any disruption to businesses and visitors is expected as the situation develops.
BPE News will continue to follow developments.