Fire tears through seaside resort's pier
- 00:01:13
- ITN
Fire tears through seaside resort's pier
A huge fire has broken out on the pier at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.The blaze ravaged the partly-wooden structure, which was opened in 1904.Avon Fire and Rescue said six fire engines and 30 firefighters were at the scene.A spokesman said there were no reports of any injuries.The blaze is believed to have started in the west tower.Dee Williams, deputy manager of the Grand Atlantic Hotel, which lies 200 yards from the pier, said: "I am watching it now and I think it is going to collapse."It is an inferno. There will be no pier by tonight."There are loud bangs going off, which could be fireworks because there was a display on there recently. The tide is out and I think they are having difficulty getting water to it."My night porter spotted the flames at 7.15am. There are lots of people about, watching the fire, and the police have blocked off the road."The pier was bought by new owners and done up recently, it is part of our identity and would really affect trade if we were to lose it."Jacquie Whelan, owner of Sunfold Hotel on Beach Road, said: "I just looked out of the window about ten minutes ago when I woke up and could not believe what I was seeing."It is the most horrendous thing. They are massive red flames, hundreds of feet in the air, all over the pier."We are a five-minute walk to the pier, and from where I am standing it just looks like a huge bonfire. It is not going to survive."The pier was recently bought in a multimillion-pound deal by entrepreneurs Michelle and Kerry Michael.The Michael family had already spent hundreds of thousands of pounds as part of aregeneration of the site, including a new funfair and the go-kart track.The new owners also planned to open restaurants and offer Victorian-style shows.Relatives of Mr Michael said he left the country yesterday for a holiday in Spain.Speaking from his home in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare, a woman, who asked not to be named, said Mr Michael was aware of the situation and was likely to return home as soon as possible.
ITN | July 28, 2008
