Margate fire 'not deliberate'

Margate fire 'not deliberate'

The fire destroyed an amusement arcade on Margate seafront

Kent Police have said they are not treating a fire which tore through Margate's seafront as deliberate.

The huge fire swept through two amusement arcades last Friday, destroying a four-storey building.

Fire investigators had said it may be difficult to find out how the fire had started due to the extent of the damage.

Kent Fire Brigade experts were at the scene until Monday attempting to establish how the fire had started.

Big blow to town

But the operation was then passed on to a police forensic team, who have now completed their investigations, content the fire was not started deliberately.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said they were not conducting a separate investigation but would liaise with the various insurers if they were requested to do so.

The fire has been seen as a big blow for the resort town as the Easter break and summer season approach.

Thanet Council and Margate Town Partnership have met to discuss measures designed at minimising the visual - and financial - impact on the seafront.

Suggestions have included cafes and gardens in the open space left by the destruction of the arcade building.