A widow whose husband died from horrific burns after an electricity substation exploded on Brighton's Palace Pier has settled her damages claim.

Sally Thomson, 34, of Rectory Road, Worthing, was left to bring up her six-year-old daughter Lily May alone after the death of her electrician husband Michael, 31, in August 1995.

She sued the owners of the pier but a settlement was reached before the case went to a full High Court hearing.

The sum, believed to exceed £100,000, was agreed by lawyers for the Brighton Marine Palace Pier Company.

Mrs Thomson, who laughed and kissed her lawyers after the settlement had been approved, was said by her solicitor Stephen Richards, to be very relieved.

Her husband, a self-employed technician, suffered burns over 50 per cent of his body when high voltage equipment blew up while he was investigating a faulty circuit breaker in the substation at the sea end of the pier. He died in hospital ten days later on August 30.

Alen Jeffreys QC, for Mrs Thomson, told Judge Grenfell there had bean "a live issue" in the case over whether or not Mr Thomson had himself been partly responsible for what happened.

The judge said that, having looked at the figures and the risks of a contested trial, the settlement seemed appropriate.

Speaking to Mr Jeffreys, he added: "Your client realises this from her reaction to what you have been saying to her."

Mr Richards said afterwards: "She's very relieved. There is tremendous pressure involved.

"That's the trouble with these cases. People can't really lay their loved ones to rest until these miserable affairs are over."