Thousands flocked to Brighton seafront as smoke billowed into the sky from the structure and flames engulfed the once magnificent pier.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue received a call shortly before 10am on that fateful Friday in March, reporting that the West Pier was on fire.

What started as a small fire soon erupted to devour the entire pavilion of the pier, much to the shock and sadness of residents.

Smoke from the fire billowed into the sky as thousands watched on helplessly (Image: Argus archive)

Coastguard helicopters and boats, police and as many as 40 firefighters all worked to save the structure but to no avail.

The structure, which had fallen into disrepair over many decades, was too dangerous to walk on, while the heat, low tide and underwater obstructions prevented lifeboats from getting close enough to tackle the flames.

Emergency services also faced other issues while attempting to deal with the situation, including a swimmer with a camera trying to get too close to the burning structure.

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Back on land, onlookers, including residents and visitors alike, heard the news, went to the seafront and stopped to watch the event play out, with traffic along King's Road brought to a standstill.

Owners at the former Alfresco restaurant along the seafront opened the outlet's windows and blasted out Luciano Pavarotti's well-known classic Nessum Dorma at full volume to mark the "death" of the pier.

Amid the smoke, a cloud of yellow vapour was also spotted drifting from the pier - understood to be burning sulphur, used in the pier's cast iron supports.

'West Pier arson attack' - the front page of the Evening Argus on the day of the tragic fire (Image: The Argus)

Amid the sound of helicopters whurring overhead was the roar of the blaze itself, punctuated by the heart-breaking sound of masonry and wood crashing down.

Flames began to die down by midday, only for the tragedy to be prolonged after the wind direction changed and engulfed the west kiosk, which once served as a clairvoyant's booth.

Debris from the fire began to drift out to sea as dusk fell, with some souvenir hunters wading into the water to collect a piece of the wreckage to remember one of Brighton's sadder days.