Southsea's South Parade Pier fails to sell at auction

The pier was closed in October after it was deemed structurally unsafe

A Victorian pier has failed to find a new owner after being put up for sale at auction.

South Parade Pier in Southsea, Portsmouth, had a guide price of £190,000 to £210,000 at the Clive Emson Auction in Southampton earlier.

The Grade II listed pier closed in October after engineers found it to be structurally unsafe and "a danger to the public".

Experts hope it could be purchased in a post auction deal.

The auction catalogue described it as offering "huge scope and potential" for a new owner.

The Who

Rob Marchant, from Clive Emson, said interested parties included an amusement arcade enthusiast and a current pier owner.

He said: "We are in talks and hope to find a new owner soon.

"Other privately-owned piers have shown they can be commercially viable and this is a great looking pier with magnificent views.

"I'm sure there is an investor out there who could revive the fortunes of this grand old structure."

The original pier was destroyed by fire in 1904 and required a complete rebuild at a cost of £85,000.

Previously popular as a terminal for ferries to and from the Isle of Wight it was latterly used as the backdrop for The Who's rock opera Tommy.

In 1974, another fire left it requiring a further rebuild.