Disruption across Sussex as Storm Claudio strikes

Part of the dilapidated pier's south west corner fell into the sea this morning as it was lashed by mountainous waves.

Sussex was hit by winds up to 68mph, predicted in a Met Office yellow weather warning for midnight to 8am.

The powerful winds and heavy rain continued all day, causing widespread disruption.

West Pier collapsed in its south west corner this morning (Image: Julia Claxton)

Julia Claxton, a photographer, noticed the pier collapse when she was walking along the beach from Hove.

She said: "I always wonder how the pier has survived after a stormy night. I took a big camera down and had a look.

"I walked from the Hove end and it was quite obvious that quite a large chunk had gone.

"It looks like a new collapse."

Loose trampoline in Hassocks (Image: The Argus)

Elsewhere there were reports of loose trampolines causing disruption.

One person in Hassocks said “tell people to secure their trampolines".

He added: “Our neighbour’s has ended up in our garden.”

A flying trampoline became caught underneath a train between Worthing and Hove at around 5.45am this morning.

It became welded to the conductor rail but was removed and the track was cleaned before services continued.

Fallen tree in Shoreham (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

There was a cable fire near the railway line at Gatwick Airport after a cable moved from its normal position and “came into contact with the electric third rail”.

A Southern Rail spokesman said a temporary speed restriction would be in place until permanent repairs were made.

Fallen tree branch in Preston Park (Image: The Argus)

Several trees fell down across Sussex.

One smashed on to four parked cars in Southlands Way, Shoreham, before 8am this morning.

The tree was still on top of the cars at around 11am.

A huge tree branch in Preston Park also fell over on the Preston Road side.

The branch snapped off this early morning (Image: The Argus)

One bystander said "it would have been very dangerous if it had fallen the other way".

Brighton and Hove City Council said it was aware of the fallen tree. A spokesman said: "It came down in the strong winds last night.

"One of our crews is heading over there today to clear up."

There was also a fallen tree in Victoria Park, Worthing.

A sign at Texaco in Brighton Road, Shoreham, was blown down early in the morning.

The fuel sign fell over this morning (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Roads were flooded following the torrential downpour in many parts of the county.

There was flooding in Western Road near Norfolk Square, Brighton, which covered most of the road.

There was also flooding in Shoreham near Southlands Way.

The A23 near Pyecombe also had reports of flooding on the carriageway.

Flooding near Norfolk Square (Image: The Argus)

A loose barrel was reported on the A27 near Lewes early this morning.

Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were outside scaffolding in front of the Co-operative Bank in Western Road after reports it had come loose and posed a danger.

The entrance to Marks and Spencer in Western Road, Brighton, was closed due to fears over glass falling from a broken window.

Outside Marks and Spencer (Image: NQ Staff)

And some residents in Goldstone Close, Hove, were left “in tears” after part of their road flooded.

Brighton Marina was hammered by waves as the strong winds continued into the afternoon.

Send your pictures of the disruption to george.carden@newsquest.co.uk