Plunderers rushing to cash in on the collapse of the West Pier have been condemned for their greed.

Shattered fragments of the Grade I listed structure in Brighton have already been posted on internet auction site ebay.co.uk Crowds of people began grabbing washed-up souvenirs from the beach almost as soon as the pier collapsed on Sunday.

But supporters of the pier have been disgusted by how quickly people have started trying to make money out of it.

Rachel Clark, general manager of the West Pier Trust, said: "It did not particularly surprise us that people would come and claim pieces of the pier.

"But it is very depressing to find them being put up for sale on the internet. This is a great shame. It is astonishing what some people will do."

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish suggested anyone selling fragments should donate the proceeds to the trust.

He said: "It was dreadful the way people were down there scavenging within minutes of hearing the pier was under threat.

"I am appalled people are now trying to make money out of the collapse. The money would be better going towards repairs."

Internet browser Grace McAdam, from Brighton, said: "I think ebay should ban this sort of sale. When the World Trade Centre was bombed they banned the sale of all related items."

One seller on ebay promises people "an incredible chance to own a piece of history", offering a 21in piece of wood with a starting bid of £4.99.

A piece of wood which began with the reserve price of 10p had attracted four bids yesterday, taking its value to £5.50.

But other sellers were not proving so successful, with many still waiting for their first bids.

Mike Biddle, who collected fragments varying in size from 12in and 36in, was offering them for at least £10 each. There had been no bids by yesterday.

His description of the items tells potential bidders the pier had been "unable to withstand the combined and sustained attacks of an unforgiving sea and a city council composed mainly of imbeciles".

One seller who has promised to donate the proceeds to charity has received two bids, taking his price up to £10.50.

Gloria Lewington, 58, from Whitehawk, and her son Darren, 30, are offering five fragments of wood they collected for £3.99 each.

Mrs Lewington said: "All we are doing is providing a piece of heritage for people to pass on.

"The real scandal is people who have made money out of the pier for years but allowed this tragedy."

Brighton and Hove police will not take any action against people taking bits of the pier from the beach.

A spokeswoman said: "The debris has been washed up on the beach and has not been taken from the pier structure itself.

"It is classed as salvage. In any case, we doubt very much the broken pieces of decking and other bits of wood will be very much use in restoring the pier."