An investigation is underway after a fire damaged a well-used pier.

The walkway off Mark Lane, in Denton near Gravesend, partially collapsed on Saturday (August 31) and has been taped off.

Pictures of the wooden structure, which is near the Ship and Lobster pub, show the extent of the damage.

Part of the walkway has collapsed into the River Thames below with fragments scattered along the shore.

The entrance has been taped off to stop visitors from using it.

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation, which acts as the London Port Health Authority for the tidal Thames and is responsible for the pier, said it was aware of damage to the access walkway at its facility in Denton.

They added: “Measures have been put in place to keep the area safe while we investigate the extent and cause of the fire.

“We strongly urge members of the public to stay away from the pier.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was called at around 5.50am on Saturday morning to reports of a wooden structure on fire.

Local historian Christoph Bull said the walkway is believed to have been built in the late 18th or early 19th century and sits in the ancient parish of Denton.

Since then, it has been rebuilt on several occasions to repair what needed fixing.

He added: “It has been there quite a long time.”

Christoph said that the pier would have been part of the original Denton Wharf where people would travel to drop off coal as they did not need to pay tax in Gravesend.

He added tourists would also travel to the area to sit in the pub gardens which were at that time in the countryside.