Fire today again ripped through the remains of Brighton's arson-target West Pier as a hotspot from yesterday's blaze flared back into flames.

Strong winds fanned the embers and the blaze quickly grew, with flames licking through the roof of the surviving portion of the crumpled Victorian theatre.

Firefighters were alerted to the latest blaze at just before noon but did not take action - the charred concert hall had been condemned as too dangerous to enter following the spectacular arson fire in the early of hours of yesterday.

A decision was made today to allow the flames to burn themselves out rather than risk officers' safety.

Dr Geoff Lockwood, chief executive of the Brighton West Pier Trust, said: "This fire will finish it up."

Scores of sight-seers dashed to the seafront to watch as the ornate but crumpled wooden structure was engulfed in smoke.

Neighbours and guests at nearby hotels kept windows closed to keep out the fumes as thick smoke poured inland and on to busy Kings Road A spokesman for East Sussex Fire Service said: "It is too dangerous for us to fight the flames and there isn't much left of the pier to burn anyway."

Dr Lockwood and the trust's general manger Rachel Clark could only watch helplessly from their office on the pier today as the fire grew.

Dr Lockwood said: "They told us there were still some hot spots in the roofing felt and it seems they have re-ignited. The fire has broken out again."

Yesterday, before the hall became too dangerous, Dr Lockwood looked inside and said there was much of it that could have still been saved.

He said: "Now it looks as if that will go. I can see this fire will finish it up. I am desperately disappointed the fire cannot be tackled."

The only hope for the pier this morning was forecast rain.

Giuseppe Colasurdo, owner of the Al Fresco restaurant near the pier, said: "Yesterday the fire brigade were here all morning and there was a bit of smoke.

"But today it's really burning. They spent all this time and effort and it's just started again.

"I called the fire brigade and they said they were just going to have to let it burn.

"I think it's terrible."

City council Tory group leader Brian Oxley said he would be calling for security to be stepped up to prevent future attacks on whatever survives today's blaze.

He said: "The on-going tragedy of the West Pier is a real problem for the city.

"I shall be seeing the council's chief executive later today and I will be raising questions about the security of the site and what needs to be done to ensure this key landmark is preserved until its future is secured."