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| Owner vows to restore burnt pier | Owner vows to restore burnt pier |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The owner of the Grand Pier at Weston- super-Mare, which was destroyed in a fire, has said he "will work tirelessly to restore" the structure. | The owner of the Grand Pier at Weston- super-Mare, which was destroyed in a fire, has said he "will work tirelessly to restore" the structure. |
| Kerry Michael, who bought the pier with his sister in February, said they were "absolutely devastated" by the blaze. | Kerry Michael, who bought the pier with his sister in February, said they were "absolutely devastated" by the blaze. |
| Dozens of firefighters tackled the fire which broke out in the North Somerset seaside resort at about 0700 BST. | Dozens of firefighters tackled the fire which broke out in the North Somerset seaside resort at about 0700 BST. |
| No-one was injured in the blaze, which firefighters said started in an area containing deep fat fryers. | No-one was injured in the blaze, which firefighters said started in an area containing deep fat fryers. |
| 'Near destruction' | |
| But the fire service added that the cause of the blaze might not be known till midweek, as safety concerns were preventing crews from getting inside the pier's burnt shell. | But the fire service added that the cause of the blaze might not be known till midweek, as safety concerns were preventing crews from getting inside the pier's burnt shell. |
| Mr Michael, who was on his way home from holiday in Spain when the fire started said the "magnificent" structure, would be "restored to its former glory". | Mr Michael, who was on his way home from holiday in Spain when the fire started said the "magnificent" structure, would be "restored to its former glory". |
| In a press statement he also thanked people for their messages of support. | In a press statement he also thanked people for their messages of support. |
| Among those was the Bishop of Bath and Wells who broke off from the Lambeth Conference to express his shock and sympathy. | |
| The fire on the pier - picture by Penny Broomhall | |
| "The near destruction of the Grand Pier is a devastating blow for the people of Weston-super-Mare and I assure you all - the owners, the town's people and the visitors - of my sympathy, support and prayers at this very difficult time," he said. | "The near destruction of the Grand Pier is a devastating blow for the people of Weston-super-Mare and I assure you all - the owners, the town's people and the visitors - of my sympathy, support and prayers at this very difficult time," he said. |
| Mr Michael said: "I feel very sorry for all our dedicated staff, many of whom have been here all their working lives and treasured the pier. | |
| "I don't know how they are going to come to terms with this tragic loss. | |
| "I feel very sorry for the people of Weston, for them the pier was Weston. In these difficult economic times I sincerely hope that this event doesn't bring further hardship to those businesses and people who rely on our tourist trade. | |
| "I would like to assure all these people that we will work tirelessly to restore this magnificent structure to its former glory." |