WHEN thousands watched Eastbourne Pier burning uncontrollably in the scorching July sunshine last year, the future did not look great for the Victorian structure.

Not only is it an iconic and much loved pier, it is Eastbourne’s biggest tourist attraction.

The town relies so heavily on visitors who are after a traditional British seaside experience. And it came at the worst possible time too – right in the middle of what should have been a busy and lucrative summer season.

With the flames raging and more than 80 brave firefighters and RNLI volunteers desperately trying to control the blaze, nobody would have predicted that a year on the pier would pretty much be back to its best and fully open for business.

Surprisingly, as revealed in our Life report today, the pier’s post-fire revival has even seen an influx of visitors who are curious to find out how the town is getting on.

But it has taken a monumental effort from the council, traders, residents, fundraisers, workmen and politicians to get Eastbourne back on the map. Everyone should be applauded for their efforts.

Eastbourne locals even had David Cameron and George Osborne on the seafront the morning after the night before, promising a £2 million cash injection to help the town recover.

Christmas had come five months early, it seemed.

Reports suggest Eastbourne Borough Council is still waiting for the cash to reach the coffers.

But it will come.

And it will help cover the costs of a clean-up and repair operation that has ensured the town’s doors remain wide open for business this summer.

The cash has also ensured the tradesmen and women on the pier have kept their livelihoods – a gesture that money really cannot buy.

The people of Eastbourne have shown that anything is possible when you get together and dedicated yourself to the cause.

They were not going to stand by and see the town’s pier rotting away.

Well done to one and all.