Fire destroys Grand Pier at Somerset

By OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT

London

July 28: The Grand Pier at Somerset seaside town of Weston-super-Mare has been destroyed in a huge blaze on Monday morning.

An investigation into the cause of the fire, which is unknown at this stage, has been started, according to Avon Fire and Rescue.

After receiving calls about fire, Avon Fire and Rescue said the first appliances were on scene within five minutes and were faced with a well developed fire. "In total, 13 fire engines, special appliances, and more than 100 firefighters and officers were in attendance at the height of the operation," the fire brigade said.

"Due to the severity of the fire, crews fought the flames from a distance using water jets and set up fixed ground monitors which were left to deploy water onto the fire," the fire department added.

The pier, which was opened in 1904 and stretches for almost half-a-kilometre into the Bristol Channel, was a major tourist attraction and had been bought by brother-sister duo Kerry and Michelle Michael earlier in February 2008.

The Grand Pier, which was severely damaged by fire on January 13, 1930, is one of three piers in Weston-super-Mare. The other two are Birnbeck Pier, which is quite derelict now, and Sealife Aquarium.