Inquiry continues into pier fire

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Investigations are continuing into the cause of a fire which destroyed a historic Lancashire pier.

The Edwardian structure, built in 1910, burned down after a fire started in the early hours of Tuesday.

It is thought to have started in a former pub and cafe near the front of the pier on the main road.

The police are still waiting to be told the structure is stable and it is safe to carry out an inquiry into whether the fire was started deliberately.

Further examinations will also be made to try to establish whether the structure can be saved.

It is still not known if the metal pillars and concrete which forms the base of the pier could possibly be restored.

'Golden age'

About 60 firefighters tackled the blaze by pumping water from a boating lake a mile away to help control the blaze.

The attraction was first built in 1910 - the last to be constructed in the "golden age" of pier building.

It was built with a promenade deck and 600ft long jetty with an ornate oriental-style pavilion, which opened to the public in 1911.

The pier was sold to a Lancashire businessman for about £500,000 last year.

Mike Simmons, also known as comedian Joey Blower, wanted to convert it into luxury apartments but his plans faced some local opposition.

The blaze comes less than six weeks after a fire destroyed the 104-year-old pier in the Somerset resort of Weston-super-Mare in July.