The Palace Pier is one of Brighton's biggest draws and tourism leaders insist it will stay that way despite last night's inferno.

It's the third most popular attraction in Britain, attracting about seven million visitors a year.

Brighton and Hove City Council is confident any damage to the Victorian structure will be repaired quickly to minimise any damage to the local economy.

Council communications director Tony Miller said: "From the evidence I have been given, it does not appear that there will be any long-term structural damage to the pier.

"We are confident this will not have any significant impact on the success of Brighton as a tourist attraction.

"What has happened is not a disaster. We have not lost both of our piers and I trust that this time next year we will be well on the way to having two fantastic piers, with work planned to begin on the West Pier very soon.

"Ironically, the collapse of the West Pier actually attracted more people to the city than usual. When it fell into the sea, pictures were beamed all over the world and I have been called by newspapers from as far away as Melbourne and the United States."

The Palace Pier and West Pier form the bookends of Brighton's biggest success story.

Fifteen years ago the beach between the piers was almost a wasteland but it has since been transformed into the city's thriving heartland.

Mr Miller said: "Brighton Pier did not die last night and the West Pier is about to be reborn. The pier area is our window to the world and is vital to the local economy. Despite what happened last night, we will make sure it continues to go from strength to strength."