An entertainer believes the golden age of Brighton's piers is over.

Reg Moores, 80, is a keen student of pier history, having visited and performed at piers across England and America.

But he believes the West Pier should be left to crumble into the sea without draining the public purse any longer.

And the end may not be too far behind for the currently cash-rich Palace Pier.

Mr Moores' showbiz exploits have included staging magic shows and an international whistling contest at Eastbourne Pier in 1991.

Ten years ago he took part in a TV show tracing the history of piers across the country. He joined a visit to the West Pier.

Mr Moores, of Horton Road, Brighton, said: "Even then it was in a derelict state and very dangerous. It took two divers and a rubber dinghy just to get out to the ladder up to the ballroom."

Huge chunks of the pier collapsed into the sea in December and January but councillors last month gave the go-ahead for a £30 million restoration.

Mr Moores said: "To talk about trying to rebuild the West Pier is stupidity, it's just crazy. It will never be viable again.

"We have to face facts - the pier years have almost gone."

Mr Moores places the blame on the vogue for foreign holidays and the disappearance of the piers' original practical purposes.

He said: "They served a good purpose as a landing stage for the paddle steamers which sailed along the coast.

"I remember them lovingly - Waverley, Glen Gower, Brighton Bell, Devonian. It was so exciting going to see the engine room.

"There were also theatres, bandstands, dancing and other forms of entertainments, speedboat rides and, of course, the slot machines.

"Unfortunately, those days have long gone."

Mr Moores also visited the five piers which once stood in Atlantic City in America.

A friend was manager of the Steel Pier, where there was a circus featuring diving horses.

But he added: "I have been out many times since and it is so sad to see just the remnants of bits of ironworks sticking out from the sea."

He saw the last show at the Palace Pier's theatre before it was damaged and dismantled. The stars on the bill included Elsie and Doris Walters, Sandy Powell and Leslie Sarony.

He said: "The Palace Pier is recognised as the world's finest but it survives now by free entrance, franchises, bars and food shops and fairground rides.

"But it will only remain there as long as it is viable and with the huge costs of maintaining piers these days, I think they are on the way out.

"There is also the constant corrosion from being in the water.

"It would make more sense to invest good money in attractions on land."