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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into cause of pier fire | Inquiry into cause of pier fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Fire crews are hoping to venture inside the burned-out skeleton of Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier to start searching for the cause of the blaze. | Fire crews are hoping to venture inside the burned-out skeleton of Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier to start searching for the cause of the blaze. |
| The pier which was first built in 1904 was destroyed on Monday in a fire thought to have started in kitchens. | |
| Avon Fire and Rescue Service said officers would only be allowed into the blackened husk of the pavilion once structural engineers ruled it was safe. | Avon Fire and Rescue Service said officers would only be allowed into the blackened husk of the pavilion once structural engineers ruled it was safe. |
| Owner Kerry Michael spent £1m revamping the attraction he bought in February. | Owner Kerry Michael spent £1m revamping the attraction he bought in February. |
| The 49-year-old entrepreneur told a press conference on Monday night that the "tragic event" was "truly devastating" as he only regarded himself as a custodian of the attraction for future generations. | The 49-year-old entrepreneur told a press conference on Monday night that the "tragic event" was "truly devastating" as he only regarded himself as a custodian of the attraction for future generations. |
| 'Truly devastating' | 'Truly devastating' |
| Mr Michael, flanked by more than 20 devoted employees whose futures are not known, said "the pier was Weston, Weston was the pier". | Mr Michael, flanked by more than 20 devoted employees whose futures are not known, said "the pier was Weston, Weston was the pier". |
| He assured local people he would not rest until the pier, which he had kitted out with a go-kart track and bar, was back to its "former glory". It was the heart of everything at Weston Lord Archer Support grows for Weston | He assured local people he would not rest until the pier, which he had kitted out with a go-kart track and bar, was back to its "former glory". It was the heart of everything at Weston Lord Archer Support grows for Weston |
| He had cut short his holiday in Spain to fly home and deal with the fire. | He had cut short his holiday in Spain to fly home and deal with the fire. |
| Chief Fire Officer of Avon Fire and Rescue Service Kevin Pearson said the cause of the fire could not be investigated until structural engineers had given their approval. | Chief Fire Officer of Avon Fire and Rescue Service Kevin Pearson said the cause of the fire could not be investigated until structural engineers had given their approval. |
| "Our main concern continues to be the safety and stability of the structure that supports the pavilion at that end. | "Our main concern continues to be the safety and stability of the structure that supports the pavilion at that end. |
| "We are not going in there until its absolutely safe to do so." | "We are not going in there until its absolutely safe to do so." |
| Firefighters fought to tackle the flames from before 0700 BST on Monday but the fire quickly took hold of the partly-wooden structure. | Firefighters fought to tackle the flames from before 0700 BST on Monday but the fire quickly took hold of the partly-wooden structure. |
| Within an hour-and-a-half the main pier building was destroyed. | Within an hour-and-a-half the main pier building was destroyed. |
| Tory MP for Weston-Super-Mare John Penrose said the blaze was tragic for the North Somerset town. | Tory MP for Weston-Super-Mare John Penrose said the blaze was tragic for the North Somerset town. |
| The whole seafront is in the middle of a major revamp under a £28m grant-funded scheme. | The whole seafront is in the middle of a major revamp under a £28m grant-funded scheme. |
| Novelist Lord Archer, who used to work as a cleaner on Weston-super-Mare pier, said: "It was the heart of everything at Weston. It was the focal centre." | Novelist Lord Archer, who used to work as a cleaner on Weston-super-Mare pier, said: "It was the heart of everything at Weston. It was the focal centre." |
| He said his wife Mary also had a holiday job on the pier, selling ice creams, before they were engaged. | He said his wife Mary also had a holiday job on the pier, selling ice creams, before they were engaged. |
| The Bishop of Bath and Wells broke off from the Lambeth Conference to offer his "sympathy, support and prayers" to everyone affected by the pier fire. | The Bishop of Bath and Wells broke off from the Lambeth Conference to offer his "sympathy, support and prayers" to everyone affected by the pier fire. |