High winds and stormy seas have led to further damage to one of Britain’s most recognisable seaside piers.
A section of the 148-year-old, Grade-I listed West Pier in Brighton fell victim to the weather during Tuesday night.
Opened in 1866 after being designed and engineered by Eugenius Birch, the West Pier was closed in 1975 and has been deteriorating since. In 2002, a huge storm resulted in the dramatic collapse of the south-east corner of the Concert Hall and a year later arsonists struck. The skeletal remains of the pier have made it a public attraction, but trust officials concede that it will eventually fall into the sea. (PA)
Red Light Secrets museum
On any given evening, thousands of tourists stroll down the narrow canal-side streets of Amsterdam’s famed Red Light District, gawking at ladies in lingerie who work behind windows, making a living selling sex for money.
Now a small educational museum is opening in the heart of the district to show reality from the other side of the glass.
Organiser Melcher de Wind said the Red Light Secrets museum, located in a former brothel, is for those who want to learn more about how the area works without actually visiting a prostitute. (PA)
Anne Frank’s marbles recovered
Shortly before Anne Frank and her family went into hiding from the Nazis, she gave some of her toys to a non-Jewish neighbourhood girlfriend for safekeeping.
The Anne Frank House Museum says the toys have now been recovered and Anne’s tin of marbles will go on display for the first time this week at an art gallery in Rotterdam.
The neighbour, Toosje Kupers, kept the marbles along with a tea set and a book. When she was interviewed by the museum in 2009, she realised the commonplace items would be of historical interest and donated them. Museum spokeswoman Annemarie Bekker said that Frank was one of many Jewish children who gave away toys before being deported and dying in the Holocaust. (AP)
Snake seen in botanic garden
Visitors to a popular botanic garden were surprised to find a snake living among the trees and plants.
The 2ft California kingsnake was discovered in the warm palm house at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens in the west end of the city.
Staff called the SSPCA, which rescued the non-poisonous snake and took it to the charity’s rehoming centre in Cardonald. Carers at the charity have named him Dermot and are trying to trace his owner. (PA)
Prince plays at secret gig
US singer Prince has promised to work his way up to “bigger venues” after delighting fans at a surprise gig in a small British venue.
He took to the stage of the Electric Ballroom in Camden, north London, late on Tuesday night backed by his new 3RDEYEGIRL band follow-ing speculation of a sur-prise performance.
Rumours of the gig began circulating on Twitter, with some fans fortunate enough to get tickets posting messages. The gig, in front of fewer than 300 fans, came as the enigmatic star flew into London yesterday to promote his new album, recorded with the all-female trio. (PA)