Dismantling of Luton Airport's fire-hit car park starts

Work to dismantle the car park could take up to 16 weeks to complete

Work has begun to dismantle an airport car park that was destroyed by fire.

Luton Airport said in November that its Terminal Car Park 2 would be "fully demolished" after structural reports found it unsound.

The fire broke out on level three of the car park on 10 October, and was thought to have started in a diesel car before it spread rapidly.

The work is expected to take up to 16 weeks to complete, an airport spokesman said.

He added that cars would be removed from the different levels as part of the dismantling process.

Following removal, salvage companies appointed by insurers would then take the cars, he told the BBC.

The fire broke out at about 20:45 BST on 10 October at the Terminal Car Park 2 which is immediately next to the main terminal

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said previously that it was unlikely that any of the cars would be able to be used again.

The airport said it had provided the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) with the registration details of 1,405 vehicles.

In November, Neil Thompson, operations director at the airport, said: "It is reassuring to note that the vast majority of insurance claims have been settled."