THE SKELETAL frame of the burnt-out Eastbourne Pier arcade has been pulled down as repair work moves forward.

Two 70-tonne cranes are leaving Eastbourne on Monday, marking the completion of work to remove the pier’s fire-damaged steel dome.

With the dome dismantled, the next phase of the pier renovation project will get under way – repairing the steel substructure of the pier and installing new decking.

Christos Stylianou, Eastbourne Pier general manager, said: “We’re really pleased with progress on the renovations despite being hampered by some challenging weather, especially high winds which prevented us operating from the basket on the crane.

“It’s great to see people are continuing to visit the pier and supporting the businesses here.

“The viewing panels alongside the walkways are proving popular with visitors who can see work on the Blue Room being carried out at close hand and the transformation taking place as the project continues.”

A petition is also active to get the arcade rechristened as The Penny Arcade or Penny’s Funland in honour of Stephen Penrice, known as Penny to his friends.

Mr Penrice was working on the pier when he fell from the main platform to the beach below and died of his injuries.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said there had been no further progress on an arson investigation.