Investigation into arcade blaze

Up to 60 firefighters tackled the blaze in the seaside arcade

A police investigation is under way after fire caused extensive damage to a seaside amusement arcade in Kent.

Fire and police officers were at the site of Tivoli Entertainment on Saturday, to examine the site in Marine Terrace, Margate, in daylight.

The blaze on Friday evening was tackled by up to 60 firefighters.

Site manager John Lane said the scene at the arcade was of "total devastation" with "every bit of machinery ruined".

'Disaster for business'

He said: "The fire started very quickly. My staff got out very fast and made sure any customers in the arcade were out.

"The fire brigade got there very fast and the area was obviously sealed off."

Mr Lane said the fire was a "disaster" for the business.

He said: "We've just come out of the worst Easter we've ever had, because of the weather. Things are not too good in Margate anyway.

Site manager John Lane said it was a "disaster" for the business

"But we're coming up to the school holidays - we were looking forward to the fact that we have two weeks' school holidays.

"The weather is better, and it would have been a little bit busier, but unfortunately we're not going to take anything at all."

Margate fire station commander Mick Smith said crews arrived to find the full facade of the building issuing thick black smoke.

He said access to the terraced building was "very difficult", so firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent in to fight the flames.