Skegness fire: arson probe

A huge fire which engulfed premises on the famous seafront at Skegness, may have been started deliberately, police said.Nobody was hurt when the fire ripped through buildings on The Parade, including nightclubs, amusement arcades and restaurants.The blaze centred on the Lucky Strike arcade and Buster's Fun Pub.Millions of pounds worth of damage has been caused to premises, including the Grand Hotel, which sits behind the modern arcade and is one of the town's oldest buildings.A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said roads have been closed off and people are advised to avoid the area."Enquiries will be continuing to establish the cause of the fire," the spokesman added.A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council said the popular family resort is still open for tourists despite the road closures and traffic restrictions.Up to 200 firefighters attended the blaze and water had to be pumped from two nearby swimming pools when supplies from fire appliances ran low."Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area around the clock tower as there are traffic restrictions, but with many popular attractions in the town, Skegness is still open for business," the spokesman said.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 17, 2007

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