Severe storms have claimed a town's most recognisable symbol.

The historic lighthouse at Tideway School in Newhaven was dismantled on Friday afternoon after being declared unsafe.

High winds and heavy rain during the past month have taken their toll on the 30ft building, which has stood on the Southdown Road site since the early Seventies.

Head teacher Adrian Money said: "It's a very emotional day for all concerned. The lighthouse has been a very real symbol for our links with the community of Newhaven and despite our attempts to save it, the recent storms have caused too much structural damage to it and it has become unsafe."

Before it moved to the school the lighthouse was based on three sites.

It originally stood on the West Pier at Newhaven Harbour until the 1880s.

It was then moved to the south side of the lifeboat house in the north part of the Marina, before being moved to the swing bridge.

Then, when the present ring road was designed in the seventies, it was presented to Tideway School for preservation.

Peter Bailey, curator of Newhaven Maritime Museum, said: "It is a sad day because it was a symbol of old Newhaven and the only part of Newhaven worth knowing is the old part."

Pupils at the 1,100-pupil school had launched a series of fundraising events to cover restoration expenses, but could not prevent it from falling victim to the recent storms.

Deputy head teacher Megan Jones said: "I can remember being taken to see it on many an occasion by my grandfather when I was a child."