A discarded cigarette was the most likely cause of yesterday's blaze on Brighton's Palace Pier.

Emergency crews were called to the pier which was packed with hundreds of holiday-makers as staff were put on alert of a possible repeat of the blaze which ripped through the far-end of the structure six months ago.

Firefighters isolated the blaze to a section beneath the 250-seater Palm Court fish and chip restaurant.

Flames spread to decking but the crowds thronging the pier were not evacuated as the fire was brought under control within an hour.

East Sussex Fire Brigade said damage was confined to a small area and no one was injured.

Thousands of people have packed on to the pier in the recent heatwave and yesterday's emergency failed to deter them as they enjoyed another day of baking temperatures.

A pier spokeswoman said there was no evacuation as firefighters cut away 1sqm of decking to reach the fire.

She said: "With all this dry weather things were not great but because the fire brigade got there so quickly it was sorted out.

"We cordoned off the small area around the fire, put out the blaze and asked the fire brigade to attend.

"We were ready to evacuate but there was no need.

"We think it was probably caused by a discarded cigarette - nothing more sinister than that."

In February, a massive fire, which began in the pier's funfair, spread rapidly to the decking.

Witnesses spoke of 30ft flames leaping from the burning attraction.

The cause of the blaze was never determined.

Pictures of February's Palace Pier blaze at thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton_hove/news_features/palce_pier_fire/