Blackpool Central Pier catches fire: Firefighters tackle blaze at historic tourist attraction

Firefighters have put out a blaze on Blackpool Central Pier after it caught fire overnight.

Ten fire engines were scrambled to the scene just after 3am, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire started halfway along the pier and involved a workshop and a ride, it added.

Flames were seen lighting up the sky before dawn, with the fire service warning people nearby of possible smoke inhalation.

Incident commander Mark Winder said: "Fortunately early firefighter action has extinguished the fire to the extent there is no visible flame."

The cause of the fire is not yet known but is being investigated, he added.

Nearby roads were closed for up to two hours.

The historic tourist attraction is one of three piers in Blackpool and was the second to be built in the town in 1868, following North Pier which opened in 1863. A third, South Pier, was erected in 1893.

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