Eastbourne Pier to partially reopen to public

Eastbourne's fire-damaged pier will partially reopen on 27 September, it has been announced.

Traders whose shops were damaged in the fire on 31 July were moved into temporary pop-up premises.

Walkways have been constructed from the front of the pier to allow visitors to access undamaged sections beyond.

Visitors will be able to visit about two-thirds of the 1,000ft (304m) pier, including shops, a cafe and nightclub, Eastbourne District Council said.

Traders will begin to move back into their shops and a family fun day will be held to mark its partial reopening, a council spokesman said.

In August, 44-year-old Stephen Penrice, from Cumbria, died when he fell from the 1870s Grade II* listed pier while working on the fire-damaged attraction.

Police are treating the cause of the fire as "suspicious". No arrests have been made.