The cost of making basic repairs to the pier is to be investigated

Earlier this month Hastings council used emergency powers to close much of the pier to the public after engineers found its structure to be unsafe.

Following talks with the council, the pier's owners said the structure could re-open within three weeks.

Michael Foster, the town's MP, said the owners were confident that enough could be done quickly to persuade the council that it would be safe to reopen it.

"What matters is that the pier reopens and we find out what's necessary to achieve that," he added.

A spokeswoman for Hastings Borough Council said: "If the pier owners can carry out the necessary repairs, to our consulting engineers' satisfaction, that really is good news for everybody."

The pier was shut when engineers inspected an area under the main covered walkway and at least five trusses were "failed".