The wreckage of the West Pier started to be removed from Brighton beach today.

The West Pier Trust announced the remains of the collapsed concert hall, the part closest to the shore, will be gradually dismantled at low tides over the next two weeks.

The trust, which owns the fire-wrecked pier and its site, said it had to be taken away for health and safety reasons. The main "island" section of the pier will remain untouched.

Trust chief executive Rachel Clark said: "For the last couple of years the concert hall has been resting on the sea bed and it has been quite dangerous. People could climb on it and we would be liable if they got hurt."

A fence has been set up around the site.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears said: "For many, the removal of part of the West Pier will be a sad moment. It’s part of our history and we’ve lived with it for a long time.

"However, time moves on and we welcome the start of work to remove the remains of the old structure."