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| Fire tears through seaside pier | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Fire crews are tackling a blaze at the Grand Pier in the Somerset seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. | Fire crews are tackling a blaze at the Grand Pier in the Somerset seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. |
| Avon Fire and Rescue Service said six engines were at the scene and described the incident as a "large fire". | Avon Fire and Rescue Service said six engines were at the scene and described the incident as a "large fire". |
| One eyewitness told the BBC the blaze broke out at the foot of the West Tower and smoke was billowing out to sea. | One eyewitness told the BBC the blaze broke out at the foot of the West Tower and smoke was billowing out to sea. |
| BBC Radio Bristol reporter Nigel Dando, who is at the scene, said: "It looks as if the pier has collapsed on itself. Nothing is going to be saved." | |
| Inferno | |
| "I'm about 200 yards away from the fire, there'll be nothing left after this fire, it's a desperately sad scene." | "I'm about 200 yards away from the fire, there'll be nothing left after this fire, it's a desperately sad scene." |
| Dee Williams, deputy manager of the Grand Atlantic Hotel, which lies 200 yards from the pier, said: "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 10 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." | |
| Bruce Watson, who works at the Sovereign shopping centre opposite the Grand Pier, said: "The fire has taken complete control of the pier, they won't be able to repair it. | |
| "It's just a shell virtually now, the flames are hundreds of feet high and the smoke into the thousands of feet." | |
| The quarter-of-a-mile-long pier, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, reopened in April after a massive revamp. | The quarter-of-a-mile-long pier, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, reopened in April after a massive revamp. |
| Are you in the area? Can you see the fire? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the area? Can you see the fire? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or if you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | You can send pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or if you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. |