Engineers are today examining the stricken West Pier in Brighton to decide the best way forward.

Part of the concert hall on the Grade I listed building slid into the sea on Sunday after supports collapsed.

It was the worst damage to the pier since it closed to the public in 1975.

Representatives of the Brighton West Pier Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Brighton and Hove City Council were among those meeting today.

It is still hard to have a close look at the pier during rough weather and Trust general manager Rachel Clark said: "We should have a clearer picture next week."

About £1.5 million has been spent on emergency repairs during the last seven years.

More money from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been identified for carrying out emergency repairs and restoration.

However, the release of this cash is being held up by a legal challenge mounted by the Noble Organisation, owners of the Palace Pier, primarily on the basis of unfair competition.

Tory spokesman David Gold, who watched part of the pier collapse on Sunday, said: "Lottery money has been in the offing for years and the city's leaders have wrung their hands and listened for too long to others with their own interests at heart, such as the owners of the Palace Pier."

Sue Paskins, a campaigner for Save Our Seafront, said today an alternative should be considered to current plans for two new buildings on either side of the pier.

Save Our Seafront, whose aims are supported by the Green Party, is likely to approve an alternative plan at its next meeting on Monday.