Pleasure Beach fire under control

A number of buildings apparently caught fire

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is to reopen hours after a blaze broke out at the Lancashire leisure complex.

No-one was injured but three rides were damaged in the fire which began at about 2130BST on Thursday.

Ten fire engines and 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at the complex, which was closed to the public at the time.

A Pleasure Beach spokeswoman said the fire was being investigated but was believed to have started in the queuing station for the Grand National ride.

Rides undamaged

The spokeswoman Gill Bridge said it was too early to assess the extent of the damage but it is hoped the historic Grand National ride can be rebuilt.

"We have 145 rides on the site and only three of them have been damaged in the fire".

The Alice in Wonderland and Trauma Towers rides were also damaged.

Asked if the close proximity of the rides had helped the fire to spread, she replied: "That is part of the charm of the place, the fact we have so many rides on such a small site."

Eyewitness Marc Ellis, 33, from Fleetwood, Blackpool, said: "It's a real shame, this is a really popular place".

The 42-acre amusement park is due to reopen at 1300BST on Friday.