Weston-super-Mare cardboard pier sculpture falls after wind hits

A giant cardboard model tower has fallen victim to strong sea winds.

The six-storey-high art installation, inspired by Weston-Super-Mare's crumbling Birnbeck Pier, was put up in the Prince Consort Gardens on Saturday by local people under the instruction of artist Olivier Grossetête.

The tower began to lean at about 07:00 BST on Sunday and had completely fallen down by 11:00, project leaders said.

Bosses ensured the site was safe so people could watch it happen. When the 20m (66ft) structure finally fell, about 300 members of the community in the park helped with some "monumental jumping and squashing" to prepare it for transportation and its recycling, they added.

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Super Culture head of production Paula Birtwistle said: "The past week has presented an epic and truly out-of-the-box way to engage with Weston's unique heritage.

"Around 1,000 people of all ages and from all walks of life have come together with artist Olivier Grossetête to learn about Birnbeck Pier and build this fantastic construction."

The team behind the idea said it was an "empowering way to discover that you can make something amazing with just people power and cardboard".

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Giant cardboard replica of historic pier created