Old pier to be saved from worms

The piles of the Grade II-listed are being eaten into by seaworms

A historic wooden pier is set to be saved from burrowing seaworms after harbour bosses were awarded a £350,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money will be used to replace 50 of the main supports of the 609ft (186m) pier at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

The piles have been eaten into by burrowing gribbles and it had been feared the Grade II-listed pier would have to be closed for safety reasons.

The grant will also be used to create a new archive of information about it.

Pier promenade

That will include the historic records of the Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners and a collection of oral history recordings.

Sheena Vick, of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Standing as a focal point for generations, the pier has a special place in people's hearts as demonstrated by the incredible public support for the campaign to save it.

"It's fantastic to be able to help ensure future generations will get the chance to board a steamship, go fishing or simply promenade along the pier, just as their ancestors before them did."

The pier was opened in 1876 and acts as a landing stage for the historic steamships, the Waverley Paddle Steamer and the Balmoral.

The restoration is set to take place over three months later this year.