A bid to keep dRMM’s Stirling Prize-winning Hastings Pier in community ownership faces a race against the clock to secure tens of thousands of pounds in funding.

The Friends of Hastings Pier have set themselves a deadline of 9pm tomorrow to raise £500,000 to support their business case for securing the freehold of the pier and supporting its further development – including new dRMM buildings.

As of today the crowdfunding campaign still needs to raise around £100,000 to hit the target. The friends group says the pier could be “sold off to the highest bidder” if it does not get across the line in time.