Fire guts car park

HUNDREDS of cars were reduced to burnedout shells in a dramatic multi-storey blaze in a car park on the waterfront of Liverpool on New Year’s Eve, emergency services said on Monday.

Images showed the remains of vehicles and the building coated in thick, grey dust although no-one was hurt. The blaze even melted the concrete floor of the structure in part of the seven-floor block, rendering it unstable, firefighters said.

All the estimated 1,400 vehicles in the car park, which has 1,600 spaces, were destroyed, Merseyside Police said.

Firefighters said an accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite.

Many of those affected had been visiting the city for an international horse show in the adjacent Liverpool Echo Arena and were left stranded on New Year’s Eve. Liverpool City Council opened a reception centre for those unable to get home.

The show was cancelled. Organisers said all people and horses involved were safe.

“Liverpool Arena car park fire, thanks to all of our partners, joint working at its best, a significant fire with no loss of life, shelter provided, transport made available, medical assistance and dedicated emergency services,” Merseyside Police said on its Twitter feed.

Police said all cars inside the multi-storey Kings Dock car park had been destroyed and owners should contact their insurance companies.

The city’s mayor, Joe Anderson, visited the scene, which he described on Twitter as a major incident.

“The people of Liverpool never let us down with their generosity and everyone has now been accommodated or given a lift. A big thank-you to everyone who called to offer help,” he said.