SOUTHEND Pier could be opened for longer after boasting its best visitor numbers since it was ravaged by fire in 2005.

About 294,000 visitors have trodden the boards on the longest pleasure pier in the world this year – the highest figure since the fire hit nine years ago.

Southend Council is now considering opening the pier longer, after its out-of-season hours were cut last year.

The council owns and operates the structure, but may privatise parts of it because it runs at a deficit of over £1million a year.

Graham Longley, councillor responsible for tourism and deputy leader, said: “This has been another fantastic year for us.

“We’ve had one of the driest summers in recent history and the pier has again drawn the gaze of film and television producers, such as Jamie Oliver’s show.

“However, there’s still a lot more I want to be done to drive these figures up further – including the possibility of extending pier opening times – and increase its income to bring it to self-sufficiency.

“I’d like to explore all our options for how we use the space of the former bowling alley, increase private bookings at the Royal Pavilion and attract further private sector investment.”

The previous Tory administration closed the pier on Mondays and Tuesdays out of season in a bid to shave £50,000 a year off its bills, but that could be reversed now.

The Royal Pavilion at the Pier Head has a cafe, doubles as a function centre, and can be rented out for £150 an hour.

Last year, the pier’s first-ever wedding took place there.

Peggy Dowie has been involved in the volunteer-led Pier Museum for 25 years, and has seen an increase in people this year.

She said: “I’m really pleased because the pier was in the doldrums for so long.

“The pier has certainly been a lot louder this year and there seems to have been a lot more people visiting it.”