Blackpool Tower fire: Police say ‘fire’ at landmark attraction is orange netting – live

The Blackpool Tower Eye, the customer attraction on the very prime of the construction, was not open to guests at this time, in keeping with the tower’s web site.

The tower first opened in Might 1894, and has an leisure complicated at its base with sights together with the well-known Tower Ballroom.

It’s the a hundred and twenty fifth tallest freestanding tower on the earth, and incorporates a glass-floored “skywalk” on the prime providing guests views of Liverpool and the Isle of Man.

Blackpool Tower, constructed between 1891 and 1894, is modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris and attracts greater than one million guests yearly.

It’s one in all Britain’s 10 hottest fee-paying sights.

The tower is a Grade I listed constructing and incorporates at its base a constructing containing sights that embody a world-famous ballroom and circus.

Blackpool Police have since confirmed that the flames seen on the prime of the tower are the truth is orange netting, and {that a} man has been arrested for breach of the peace.

Chief Superintendent Karen Edwards mentioned: “Our helicopter has flown over the tower and there’s no hearth. We are able to affirm what might be seen is orange netting.”

In footage shared on social media, the netting might be seen on the prime of the enduring construction, which opened in 1894.

Lancashire Hearth & Rescue mentioned: “The world the place the hearth was suspected is mostly inaccessible, subsequently entry to this space is tough. A specialist workforce from Lancashire Hearth and Rescue Service gained entry and confirmed that there was no hearth.”

A spokesperson for Merlin Entertainments, which runs the tower, mentioned: “We are able to affirm that the hearth brigade are on website on the Blackpool Tower and have established that there is no such thing as a hearth.

“Our well-rehearsed emergency procedures had been carried out, and we are able to affirm that what seemed like a fireplace from a distance was the truth is lights on a reflective netting floor on the prime of the tower.”

No smoke was reported however an investigation was carried out as a typical process, the corporate mentioned.

The encompassing space was evacuated as a precaution.

The suspected hearth was tough to evaluate as a result of the realm the place it was thought to have damaged out was inaccessible, Amy Clare Martin stories.

Lancashire Hearth & Rescue mentioned: “Lancashire Hearth and Rescue Service had been known as to Promenade, Blackpool at this time by involved members of the general public, attributable to a mixture of things that led them to imagine it was a fireplace.

“The world the place the hearth was suspected is mostly inaccessible, subsequently entry to this space is tough. A specialist workforce from Lancashire Hearth and Rescue Service gained entry and confirmed that there was no hearth.”

Blackpool Police, a part of Lancashire Police, confirmed a person had been arrested for breach of the peace and the flames seen are the truth is orange netting, Amy-Clare Martin stories.

Divisional Commander Ch Supt Karen Edwards mentioned: “We’re on the scene in help of Lancashire Hearth and Rescue Service, Blackpool Council and Merlin Leisure.

“The highest of the tower is presently closed for renovation and tough to entry.

“Our helicopter has flown over the tower and there’s no hearth. We are able to affirm what might be seen is orange netting.

“One man has been arrested on suspicion of Breach of the Peace and is being transported to custody.”

This yr’s Strictly Come Dancing competitors was held at Blackpool Tower.

Isobel Lewis stories on the town’s dance historical past, and the way ‘Blackpool Week’ turned a ‘Strictly’ establishment:

One witness advised how he and his household noticed police handcuff and arrest a person as the hearth drama unfolded, Jane Dalton stories.

Philip Roberts mentioned they noticed officers chase a person throughout the road, earlier than tackling him on the entrance to the dungeons.

“He put up a struggle. 4 police had been attempting to subdue him,” he mentioned.

“They wrestled him to the bottom and I noticed them take sure issues off him and put them in a plastic bag.

“This man who was subdued was taken away in handcuffs within the police van.

“The police had been completely superb. As soon as they received him within the van everybody cheered.”

A magic and phantasm present had been scheduled to happen on the Blackpool Tower Circus area at this time, Barney Davis stories.

The Excessive Jinx present, which included hearth respiration, had been to start out at 2.30pm – round quarter-hour after emergency providers had been known as to the scene.

“Created by award-winning illusionist and magician Michael Jordan, Excessive Jinx brings 90 minutes of sensational methods, illusions, juggling, escapology and far more to The Blackpool Tower Circus,” the tower’s web site says.

The Blackpool Tower Eye, the customer attraction on the very prime of the construction, was not open to guests at this time, in keeping with the tower’s web site.

The tower first opened in Might 1894, and has an leisure complicated at its base with sights together with the well-known Tower Ballroom.

It’s the a hundred and twenty fifth tallest freestanding tower on the earth, and incorporates a glass-floored “skywalk” on the prime providing guests views of Liverpool and the Isle of Man.