The concert hall on Brighton's crumbling West Pier finally crashed into the sea as storms pounded Sussex yesterday.

Winds reaching 70mph buffeted the remains of the fire-ravaged building where couples danced and romanced during the pier's heyday.

The hall slumped into the waves little more than a year after a fire reduced it to a metal skeleton.

All that now remains of the Grade I listed structure is its pavilion, which was ravaged by fire in March 2003.

Crowds gathered to watch the latest chapter in the troubled Victorian pier's history.

Many thought one last big storm would complete its demise.

But experts said the structure remained as strong as ever and the decision about its future should not be affected.

Rachel Clark, of the West Pier Trust, said: "Psychologically it is a blow because it is making a sorry sight look even sorrier.

"The south-east corner of the concert hall was always weak, which is why it collapsed 18 months ago, and that must have had an effect on the overall structure."

Giuseppe Colasurdo is the owner of Alfresco restaurant, near the foot of what is left of the pier.

He said: "I was watching the waves near the pier and I saw a movement in the foundations but I thought it was just my eyes.

"I kept looking and I saw it again. It was like it was falling to its knees. Then bit by bit it fell and then it was gone. It had completely collapsed and it was washing up on to the beach.

"It's a shame it should happen like this but it looks like it is finally resting, as if it has gone to sleep."

Scores of onlookers scrambled down to the beach to collect pieces of wood as souvenirs.

However, at about 5.15pm the beach around the pier was closed because coastguards feared pieces of wood might be thrown up by the high wind and crashing waves.

The famous concert hall finally gives in to the elements Coastguard Station Officer Richard Mercer, who has been on the scene each time parts of the pier have fallen, said: "We had to close off the beach for people's safety.

"Last time people were wading into the water to get bits of wood in similar weather to this. We want to stop that - it's too dangerous.

"I'm sad to see more of it go. It has been there for a very long time."

Mattias Rosen, 32, from Sweden, was on the beach when the structure collapsed. He said: "I heard two cracks. It sounded like a door slamming but more muffled because it was in water. It was slow.

"It was as though the pier bent down. It was tired, it had given up. But what can you do in winds like this?"