Fire rips through historic pier

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LONDON (Reuters) - Firefighters were called to a large blaze that swept through the historic pier at the Somerset seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare on Monday, police said.

Flames and thick black smoke engulfed the structure and could be seen from the M5 motorway, several miles from the coast, a fire brigade spokeswoman said.

Television footage showed much of the pier well alight, with smoke billowing high into the sky above the beach.

An Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said there were no reports of any injuries.

"I don’t have any reports of any casualties at this stage," she told BBC radio. "It is a very well established fire and it could take some time for us to put it out."

Police closed part of the beach and told people to stay away from the town centre. A spokesman said there were large traffic jams in the area.

"All you can see is thick, thick black smoke and loads of red flame," an eyewitness told BBC Radio Bristol. "The whole of the Grand Pier, the top of it, is collapsing. It’s just really, really sad."

Fire officials said it was too early to say what caused the blaze. An investigation will begin once the fire is out.

The pier was built in 1903 to attract visitors to the town centre. The quarter-mile long structure has housed a music hall, theatre and a go-kart track.

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(Reporting by Peter Griffiths)