Pier traders said they fear for their businesses following the closure

Hastings council used emergency powers to close the structure from the main building back out to sea last week.

Hastings magistrates decided to postpone the hearing after the council's actions were contested by the company which runs the pier.

Both sides will present their case to a judge on 9 August.

A spokeswoman for Hastings Borough Council said: "We applied for an order under section 77 of the Building Act which, if successful, would mean parts of the pier deemed to be unsafe would remain closed until such a time they were made safe.

"In the meantime our emergency powers remain in place."

'Last resort'

She added that providing no vehicles came on to the structure the front of the pier would remain open.

Earlier in the week pier traders said they feared for their businesses following the pier closure.

Hastings Borough Council said closing the pier was a last resort.

"We had to put public safety first. We will help the traders as much as we can," the spokeswoman said.

Hamesh Pooni, commercial agent for Boss Management which runs the pier, believes an alternative to closing the pier could have been sought.

"I feel for the traders. We will look at ways of helping them but I'm not sure how we can."