Beach cafe wins national award

East Beach Cafe was designed to improve as it rusts

A beach cafe in West Sussex has won a national award for its architecture, and has been praised for its unique and distinctive design.

The shell-shaped East Beach cafe, in Littlehampton, received its latest accolade from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

It was commissioned by local resident Jane Wood, who wanted something more than the usual seaside pavilion.

Earlier this year it won a regional RIBA award.

The cafe, designed by Heatherwick Studio, also won a regional award from the Civic Trust.

One of 30 buildings to be recognised at the awards ceremony in March, judges described the "iconic" building, made of a rusting steel shell, as an "amazing structure".

By day, it is a kiosk and cafeteria, but by night it becomes a restaurant.