People flocked back on to Brighton's Palace Pier today to take a look at the fire-ravaged attraction.

Visitors were eager to survey the charred ruins in the wake of a fireball which exploded after the ghost train caught fire last night.

Flames towered almost 30ft and could be seen for miles around as the blaze tore into the ride and reached to the dodgems, helter-skelter and rollercoaster, leaving them badly damaged.

Although the southern half remains closed half the pier at the shoreline end has reopened after inspectors working for owners Noble Amusements Ltd said they were satisfied the pier was safe.

Scenes of crime officers examined the scene and the rest of the pier was still cordoned off where the flames did their worst damage.

Pier owners the Noble Organisation invited people back on at 10.45am but a wire fence kept people at bay from the south-west corner where the fire took hold.

The blaze began at 7.20pm, wrecking the rides and burning through decking, leaving the walkway scorched and ruptured.

Fire crews brought the flames under control and dampened down the blistering wood but smouldering embers reignited the flames at 2.30am.

Firefighters were still on the scene and quickly stopped the fire taking hold again.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire Brigade said fire investigators had been on site since the early hours today but there was no firm idea yet on how the blaze started.

No one from the Noble Organisation was willing to comment today. Director David Biesterfield was on an aeroplane flight and staff said he could not be contacted.

A steady stream of visitors made their way on to the pier after its reopening and the gaming machines were available as usual.

Meanwhile, engineers were inspecting the pier from below to assess if the structure's supports had suffered damage.

More stories from people who saw or heard about the blaze were being shared today.

One of the first to spot the smoke was little Lewis Hobbs, aged three-and-a-half.

His grandmother Pat Wells said: "My daughter was driving past the pier and said to look at the lights.

"Then her little son said there was smoke so they stopped and called the fire brigade."

Last night the seafront was packed with people on mobile phones telling friends and family of the latest disaster to strike the city and calling them to the seafront to join them in watching firecrews battle the blaze.

Police are believed to have made several arrests for public order offences as reports were made of people trying to get on to the pier during the blaze.

Dozens of firefighters from East and West Sussex fought the blaze as thousands of onlookers crowded the beach and nearby roads to watch the latest catastrophe to hit the famous piers of Brighton.

Witness Stuart Reeve, 32, from Brighton, said: "We were so shocked by what we could see. Burning embers were falling from the bottom into the sea.

"Just the other week the West Pier collapsed and now we are here doing it all again. It looks like there will be no piers left. It's a tragedy."

Others described seeing the flames miles away.

Restaurateur James Boardman, 34, from Burgess Hill, said: "I could see a ball of fire from the top of Ditchling Beacon."

Former pier chief Gordon Eaton, who worked there in the Eighties, went straight to the scene when he heard the news.

He said: "It is dreadfully sad to see such a grand old lady in such a state."

A woman watching the fire from her ground floor flat in the Van Allen Building opposite the Palace Pier said: "I saw the flames as high as the helter skelter.

"I looked out of the window and I just saw these huge flames. I'm still shaking now and I feel sick.

"The smoke was so thick I had to close the windows at one point. I could see people running off the pier."