THICK smoke billowed over Southport last night as one of the town’s most historic fairground rides went up in flames.
The River Caves – which date back to the 1920s and are no longer in use – were destroyed in what is suspected to be the third arson attack since the former Pleasureland theme park reopened in July 2007.
A total of 10 fire crews battled to contain the huge fire, which broke out at 7.45pm.
Firefighters were still dousing the flames at 10.30pm and were expected to remain on site for several hours.
Traffic was closed along the Coastal Road between the pier and the funfair as police cordoned off the area.
And hordes of onlookers gathered on the Southport sea wall to witness the blaze, which was visible from Blackpool and across the Ribble Estuary.
Norman Wallis managing director of Dreamstorm, the company behind New Pleasureland, said the damage was likely to run into “tens of thousands of pounds”.
