Someone has got it in for the beleaguered West Pier in Brighton this year.

Twice buildings on the Grade I listed pier have been set on fire with devastating results.

Now the illuminated marker buoy off the end, a warning to ships, has been cut loose.

If the skipper of a vessel ploughed into the pier because it could not easily be seen at night or in a mist there could be a tragedy.

That could also be yet another disaster for the pier because the sub structure is the one part which remains in good condition.

This sort of sabotage, coupled with the legal action being taken by owners of the Palace Pier, is causing problems for the Brighton West Pier Trust and developers St Modwen.

But it is only making them more determined than ever to achieve restoration against the odds.