Skip to content

Newly restored pier shut after vandal attack

Federica BedendoNorth East and Cumbria
News imageBBC Tynemouth's North Pier. The lighthouse structure at the end of the pier is made of beige bricks, with white and glass sections at the top. There is a green crane parked in front of it. The pier is made of grey bricks and is surrounded by the choppy waters of the North Sea.BBC
Tynemouth's North Pier was vandalised a week on from reopening after a refurb

A pier that only reopened a week ago following restoration work is shut again due to a "significant act of vandalism".

The Port of Tyne called the timing of Wednesday's attack, which it said had left an estimated repair bill of about £20,000, "particularly disappointing".

Eight glass bricks in the pavement near the lighthouse were smashed, leaving broken glass on the ground.

A port spokesperson said the damage had made "the area unsafe for visitors" and left "sensitive equipment supporting the navigation equipment on the lighthouse vulnerable".

News imagePort of Tyne A section of the concrete pavement at the North Pier lighthouse is made up of a black and white tiled frame, with 39 glass blocks inside the decorative feature. Eight of the glass panels are smashed with a hole in the middle of each.Port of Tyne
The Port of Tyne said public access would be halted until the area was made safe

The spokesperson said: "We'd like to thank everyone who has visited responsibly and helped make the reopening such a success.

"That's why it is particularly disappointing that the actions of a small number of individuals have impacted access for everyone else and caused significant damage to this much-loved local landmark."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds.

More on this story
Related internet links