Two men have been arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of arson after Hastings Pier, East Sussex, was severely damaged by a 'major fire' this morning (5 October).

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) said it received initial reports of a fire at the 138-year-old landmark at 1am, with one fire engine on scene within five minutes. By 4.15am, however, the service announced that a total of eight engines had been called, along with two aerial ladder platforms and a water bowser, after the blaze spread.

The majority of Hastings Pier's upper buildings are now believed to have been destroyed by the fire, with Sussex Police arresting an 18-year-old and a 19-year old man in connection. ESFRS assistant chief fire officer Gary Ferrand said: "Our first fire engine was at the scene within five minutes of us receiving the initial call, when it quickly became clear this was a significant fire with further support needed. At the height of the blaze we had sixty firefighters working to bring it under control.

"This is a very historic building and landmark, not just for Hastings but for Sussex as well. The priority for our firefighters was to preserve as much as the structure, including the main steelwork, as they could." The blaze comes a day after Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust had invited architects to submit designs for a major renovation of the pier, which has been closed for four years.

Earlier this year, Hastings Borough Council (HBC) said it would hand the attraction over to the trust after acquiring it from owner Ravenclaw through a compulsory purchase order. HBC leader Jeremy Birch said: "The firefighters have worked heroically to try and contain the blaze but unfortunately because of the wind, the state of the pier and the danger of going on it, the fire really took hold.

"The council will now be looking at a new structural survey so that we can be absolutely clear on the degree of damage to the sub structure. Then we can see what the future holds for this iconic building on our seafront." Image: Hastings Seafront and Pier, March 2005 - Nick Lott