Temporary Causeway facilities after fire

Over 400,000 people visit the causeway every year

Moyle District Council has said is intends to put up temporary facilities at the Giant's Causeway where the visitors' centre was destroyed by fire on Sunday.

The cause of the fire at Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attraction is still being investigated.

Chairman of the Council Richard Lewis said after meeting the National Trust that he hoped the new facilities would be up and running within a week.

Coachloads of visitors were turned away while police examined scene

The fire caused serious disruption for visitors at the weekend. Coachloads of tourists were turned away while the scene was examined.

Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Roy Bailie, said a replacement centre will be open soon and he urged people not to stay away.

He said: "In Northern Ireland we are very good at every cloud has a silver lining.

"On the upside, it does give us a chance to learn from the mistakes in the past and to put in place a visitor attraction which is well worthy and reflects one of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland.

"Certainly we as a tourist board will be totally behind that as, I am sure, the National Trust will be and the council will be.

"So I think out of it, some good will come," he said.

Causeway centre after the blaze

Speaking on Sunday after the blaze, Divisional Fire Officer David Blair said: "Malicious ignition cannot be ruled out but I would stress that we are not looking at that as a cause at this moment in time.

"The fire may well have been accidental. There are a number of causes that we must rule out first." The unique sprawl of hexagonal basalt columns that make up the Giant's Causeway, was formed when lava broke through the earth's crust 60 million years ago and cooled as it hit the sea.

It was named after the Irish legend that it was built by Ulster warrior giant Finn McCool so he could walk to Scotland to fight a Scottish giant.

The World Heritage site attracts nearly half a million visitors a year.

'Important service'

Local political representatives who expect the numbers to increase this year to up to 700,000 said the fire was a major setback.

Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Sean Farren said: "This centre provides a very important service and it will have to be replaced as soon as possible.

"It is a very important part of the infrastructure for the whole area."

The centre, an award-winning wooden construction, was opened in 1986, housing interpretative exhibitions, a shops, café and toilets.

Firefighters found that 80% of the building had been destroyed when they arrived on the scene after the fire was reported at about 0130 BST.

They said the centre was engulfed within three minutes of their arrival as the sea breeze fanned the flames.

Six fire appliances from neighbouring districts were called to the scene and the fire crews managed to save a neighbouring hotel as well as the centre's shop and cafe area, which were however, smoke damaged.