Thousands of sightseers have made the stricken West Pier an off-beat tourist attraction.

Brighton beach was yesterday crammed with visitors who took advantage of the fine weather.

Cafes did a roaring trade and some onlookers set up their cameras on tripods, aimed at the pier, in the hope of capturing another collapse on film.

Others combed the beach in the hope of finding driftwood for souvenirs or for sale and one enterprising seafront trader sold framed pictures of the collapsed listed building.

The pier, part of which collapsed last Sunday, has become the biggest off-season tourist attraction since the beaching of the Athina B 23 years ago.

With fine weather expected this weekend, more crowds are expected.

Rachel Clark, general manager of the Brighton West Pier Trust, said even during foul weather earlier in the week hundreds of sightseers had turned up.

She said: "Many eople are interested in the pier and we welcome the care they are showing."

The trust has received hundreds of messages from people anxious to see the structure restored.

Mrs Clark said: "We do have money for the restoration in place once that is approved."

But she added that donations towards the trust's expenses were welcomed now that it had lost money from tours, which were halted when the pier became too dangerous."

Ken Bodfish, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said no one should search for scapegoat after the pier's collapse and said the council was still committed to seeing the privately-owned structure restored.

He said: "The damage is a distressing sight and it is understandable some have been looking for someone to take the blame.

"But while it is understandable, it is unfair. The main problem has always been money rather than a failure of duty on anyone's part.

"By the time this council was formed in 1997, the pier had been closed for more than 20 years. To set the record straight, the pier has always been in private hands.

"The breakthrough was National Lottery funding, secured very quickly after the lottery was established and bringing in one of the biggest grants for a heritage project in the UK.

"But rules require matching funding and that cannot simply be wished into existence."

Councillor Bodfish said the planning application for a new development on the shore end of the pier could be heard on February 27.