Part of Brighton's historic West Pier collapses into the sea as Storm Austen batters the UK with 110mph winds

Simon Haffenden, a local resident, captured footage of the collapse, describing "a big wave" hitting the structure before "a huge crash" rang out. He found the sound "really shocking" and said losing part of such an iconic landmark left him saddened. The section came down on Friday morning when gusts of up to 70mph swept along the Brighton seafront. Storm Austen has caused widespread disruption across south-east England.

The pier opened in 1866 and drew two million visitors at its peak.

After closing to the public in 1975, it was subsequently deemed beyond repair by English Heritage.

Two fires in 2003 destroyed most of what remained following storms the previous year.