Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has announced that it will be using emergency powers to start demolition work on the town's fire-damaged pier.

The council said that it would take action "in the absence of any action from [pier] owners Ravenclaw" following the fire, which destroyed most of the attraction's upper buildings on 5 October. HBC leader Jeremy Birch said: "We would normally expect a property owner to make their building safe following an incident, but we have heard nothing at all from Ravenclaw.

"We are therefore using our emergency powers to ensure that the building is made as safe as it can be, and we expect our demolition contractor to move on site within the next few days."