Part of Brighton’s iconic West Pier collapses

Part of Brighton’s West Pier has fallen into the sea during the wet and windy weather.

In footage obtained by the BBC, one side of the famous landmark can be seen collapsing into the water as it is battered by large waves.

Simon Haffende, who recorded the video, said he saw a “big wave come along and literally hit the pier”.

“You heard the bang of the wave and then… there was a huge crash,” he told the BBC.

“It was an incredible sound, but it was really shocking.

“I was very lucky to catch it.”

But Haffende, a resident of the East Sussex city for 16 years, added he also felt sad seeing part of the pier destroyed.

“It’s so iconic,” he said. “It’s such a beauty”.

“It sounds funny to say, but it is such a unique thing to have on the seafront that most other cities don’t.