Another section of Brighton's stricken West Pier crashed into the sea this afternoon during a battering from gale-force winds and raging seas.

Parts of the concert hall collapsed, less than a month after a huge chunk of the pier's middle section gave way.

Rachel Clark, general manager of the Brighton West Pier Trust which owns the landmark, said today's collapse looked serious.

It happened soon after high tide. The beach near the West Pier has already been fenced off for public safety reasons.

The Brighton West Pier Trust faces a race against time to restore the Grade I listed structure.

The trust said after the last collapse, on Sunday December 29, that it intended to go ahead with its plans.

Built between 1866 and 1916, the pier has been closed since 1975 because of its dangerous condition.

Plans for a shoreline building to provide much of the money for its restoration are due to be considered by city planners next month.

Crowds gathered on the beach to watch as spectacular waves crashed against the pier's twisted form.

Others began searching the shingle, once again gathering piles of debris as souvenirs.