This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/7528165.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Fire tears through seaside pier | Fire tears through seaside pier |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Thirty firefighters are tackling a huge 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. Black smoke and flames are billowing into the sky and was said to be visible from Wales. | |
| One witness told the BBC the fire broke out at the foot of the West Tower. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| "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." |
| Loud bangs | |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." It is the most horrendous thing. They are massive red flames, hundreds of feet in the air, all over the pier Jacquie Whelan | |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "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. |