Fire crews investigate causes of blaze that gutted part of Eastbourne Pier

An Eastbourne resident has launched a crowd funding appeal to help the traders and businesses affected by the fire on the pier.

The money will go towards the Eastbourne Pier Benevolent Fund which will create pop up shops to help keep traders afloat while it's rebuilt.

The benevolent fund has been organised by the Chamber of Commerce, the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, Eastbourne Borough Council and Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd said: "This is a disaster for us. It is a lovely pier. It was built in 1870. It's heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking."

But he said two thirds of the pier remained intact and the structure could be repaired.

The crowd funding appeal has been launched by resident Bruce Salter.

Mr Salter, who has lived in the area for 15 years, described the pier as an "iconic" structure.

The fire broke out on Wednesday behind wood panelling in the arcade building.

Eastbourne Borough Council leader David Tutt has said he understood the fire had been started by an electrical fault, but fire crews have said the cause is unexplained and an investigation will take a number of days.

No-one was injured and the fire is not being treated as suspicious

New footage has been revealed by Newhaven RNLI shows how the second RNLI crew assisted the team of firefighters and original RNLI at the scene of the Eastbourne fire.

The blaze tore through the Sussex landmark on wednesday and left a burnt out shell.

Police investigating the fire that ripped through Eastbourne's historic pier on Wednesday afternoon (July 30) have confirmed that they are now treating the incident as suspicious.

Our seaside piers are a popular tourist attraction - structures of historical significance - of a Victorian era. But, after being badly damaged by fire, is there the money to rebuild them? Before Eastbourne, in 2010, Hastings Pier succumbed to flames. We look back at the history of piers - and whether lessons can be learnt. With our report, Sarah Saunders.

Cameras in the air were able to assist in the battle to put out the flames at Eastbourne Pier. Andy Dickenson reports on the efforts by those on the seashore, at sea and beneath the pier to save an historic landmark.

Business leaders and politicians say it's "business as usual" after the Eastbourne pier was devastated by fire. This report - from John Ryall - looks at the campaign already underway to restore the Victorian seaside attraction to its former glory.

RNLI and firefighters have joined forces to tackle the pier fire that turned the iconic structure into a blackened metal shell.

Eastbourne Police have released images of the pier ruined by a fire that started in the wall panelling yesterday and spread to engulf the entire arcade.