If the West Pier does finally collapse, it will live on in a series of tiny treasures carved from the Victorian monument.

Paul and Jill Syred have created a range of doll's house furnishings from the flotsam.

The timber they are crafted from is mostly British Columbian pine, washed up when the Victorian landmark was battered by storms in January 2003.

They sell the items on the internet, where they are being snapped up by collectors from as far afield as the USA.

Jill, 49, said: "I have been making dolls' furniture for quite a long time. It was a hobby at the beginning.

"When I was a child I had a doll's house which my grandfather made for me.

"I really got interested in miniatures. When I had my daughter I started collecting bits for her."

Jill hand-crafts the furniture at her workshop in Wallington, Surrey.

Pieces are 1:12 scale and are priced from £5 for a picture frame to £63 for a dining table.

Paul, 53, said he and Jill were regular visitors to Brighton and when he heard of the pier's collapse he drove down.

He said: "It was a horrible night but we fished some wood out of the water.

"We took it home, pulled the nails out and left it to dry.

"I cut it into small pieces and my wife created the furniture from it.

"We have not got a huge quantity of wood but you do not need much to create these small pieces.

"It's nice to work with and we try to leave a few defects in, like nail holes, so people feel they have a part of history.

"One or two people have told us they met on the pier and were delighted to have a little piece of it to remind them.

"We have also made furniture from wood from HMS Victory and have been contacted by people whose great-great- grandfather was on board."

Paul and Jill's furniture will be at the Model World show at the Brighton Centre from February 13 to 15. For details see www.wood-supplies.com or call 0208 669 7266.