Car park fire started in a Land Rover

 A huge fire which destroyed around 1,400 vehicles in a Liverpool car park is believed to have started in the engine of an old Land Rover.

Witnesses described abandoning their vehicles, grabbing possessions and running after the blaze broke out near Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

The fire appeared to have been extinguished yesterday, leaving just charred remains of cars on the seven levels of the multi-storey. Insurance payouts are likely to reach into the millions. There were no reported injuries but a shelter had been set up to look after many who were unable to get home.

The Liverpool International Horse Show which was in progress in the arena was cancelled. Sue Wright, who had been attending, told how she saw an old Land Rover on level three with its engine on fire and helped to lead some of the horses to safety.

Merseyside Police said initial investigations indicated that an “accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite”.