Built in 1866, the West Pier was a simple and functional structure built using dozens of cast iron threaded columns screwed into the seabed.

It is one of only two Grade I listed piers in the country - the other is in Clevedon, Somerset.

Originally it had an open deck with only six small ornamental houses. But by 1916 its final building, a graceful concert hall, had been completed.

The pier had remained largely unaltered since the Twenties and its concert hall and theatre were two of the best surviving Victorian and Edwardian seaside entertainment buildings.

Throughout the Twenties it was immensely popular, with attractions ranging from paddle steamer excursions to recitals by the resident orchestra.

In 1970 the theatre building closed because of safety fears and five years later the rest of the pier closed.

Apart from some emergency work, little attention had been paid to it for three decades.

In December 1988, chunks of decking fell into the sea, leaving the pier virtually split in two. The following year, Prince Charles visited it and offered his support.

In 2002 experts predicted the pier would not survive a further pounding by the elements and on December 29 they were proved right.

A temporary walkway linking the concert hall to the pavilion collapsed and original supports holding the concert hall in place fell into the sea, leaving part of the hall hanging precariously above the surf.

As councillors wrangled over the future of the ailing pier it lurched further towards its watery grave with another partial collapse three weeks later in January.

The West Pier has received £14 million in National Lottery cash for restoration.

The Brighton West Pier Trust was formed 30 years ago to save the end of the pier, including the theatre, from demolition.

This was achieved but successive schemes to restore the pier came and went in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties.

Finally a package was got together with developer St Modwen which satisfied both the planners and English Heritage.

Even before today's blaze it was obvious that restoration of the pier would basically be a rebuild. Now it will have to be a total rebuild, at least as far as the theatre is concerned.

In the last few years, The West Pier Trust has spent £1.5 million on strengthening the pier.

It is pushing ahead with its £30 million plans to restore the pier's appearance to that of the Twenties.

Despite the latest catastrophe, developers say they are still confident they can restore the pier - even though today it looked doomed.

The flames have left a skeletal wreck, exactly three months after part of the 137-year-old historic structure collapsed into the sea.

The fire comes just two months after councillors granted planning permission for the restoration, despite the controversial inclusion of two large shoreline leisure "pavilions" to fund the work.

Opponents asked for a public inquiry but the Government decided no further examination of the plans was needed.

Work was due to start on the West Pier early next year, almost 30 years after it closed to the public, and plans were in place to have it restored by November 2005.

However, the fire will have weakened the structure further and possibly caused even more of it to disappear underwater.

Two weeks ago the Noble Organisation, which owns the rival Palace Pier, referred to an arcane Victorian law in a final attempt to scupper the West Pier plans.

They objected to the Harbour Revision Order, which is required before any sort of construction can begin.

The pier has been known to most as a crumbling wreck for many years and its restoration has been prevented by bureaucratic arguing.

The Noble Organisation's own Palace Pier has not been without its own share of troubles.

A blaze on the evening of February 4 2003 started on the ghost train and flames reaching almost 30ft could be seen for miles around.

The inferno engulfed the helter skelter, the dodgems and the roller-coaster, leaving them badly damaged.

However, the pier reopened to the public within hours. An inspection revealed that the damage was less severe than expected.

It does not look as though the West Pier has had such a lucky escape.

Report by Viriginia Bridgewater and Adam Trimingham