Pier jump youths risk lives

The owners of a Brighton pier have warned teenagers are putting their lives in danger by jumping off to cool down in the sea.

Groups of youths have been spotted during the past week's hot weather swimming to a point halfway along the Palace Pier from which they can climb into the metal girders and up to the level of the promenade.

They then leap into the sea, putting themselves in danger of death or serious injury - as has happened in previous years.

Alex Maynard, 15, approached BBC South East to say he regularly jumped from the pier.

"When you jump off the pier for the first time you get an amazing feeling then after a while it just gets boring," he said.

Tidal movements

"I don't tell anyone else to do something if they don't want to. It's my life and I can do what I want."

The Palace Pier's owners have informed Sussex Police about the pursuit but have been told there is little officers can do.

The company declined to speak to the BBC.

Viki Miller, seafront officer for Brighton, said she feared for the teenagers' safety while the hot weather continued.

She said: "Tidal movements move the sand banks underneath so where they jumped the day before they might have got away with it but the next day it could be completely different.

"There could be an obstruction underneath that wasn't there yesterday."