Fire crews battle blaze on seaside pier

The blaze broke out near an ice cream shop on the pier

Fire crews have battled a blaze on a Victorian pier which broke out just before midnight.

The fire started in a hut on Southport Pier, which has been closed over safety concerns since 2022, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said.

It said the blaze was "accidental" and "believed" to have been caused by an "electrical fault".

Videos from eyewitnesses showed smoke billowing from the Victorian-era structure and several fire engines at the scene.

A fire service spokesman said the blaze was "completely extinguished" by 01:30 BST.

He added that the fire "had spread to a cafe building" before it was put out.