Liverpool Echo Arena car park fire destroys 1,400 vehicles

A huge fire has destroyed up to 1,400 vehicles in a multi-storey car park in Liverpool, forcing many people to spend New Year's Eve in a temporary shelter.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze at King's Dock - next to the Liverpool Echo Arena - was one of the worst it had ever dealt with.

An accidental fire in one car which spread to other vehicles appeared to have been the cause, police said.

Nearby apartments were evacuated due to smoke.

People who had parked in the multi-storey described being "frightened" by the noise as car windows exploded.

They said emergency services warned them their cars would be lost to the blaze.

Merseyside Police reported 21 fire engines were at the scene during the night tackling the blaze and the fire service said it was guarding against the risk of the building collapsing.

All vehicles left in the 1,600-capacity car park have been destroyed, police said.

They warned people to stay indoors and close windows if they saw smoke from the fire.

The Liverpool International Horse Show has been running at the arena, which has a total capacity of 11,000, since 28 December.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted that everyone was safe and no animals had been hurt.

The fire was reported at about 16:40 GMT

He said some horses that were on the first floor of the multi-storey car park had been moved inside the arena.

'Not getting your car back'

Kerry Matthews was visiting Liverpool for the night to celebrate the new year and had left his vehicle in the car park.

He said: "A fireman said the whole car park is on fire. He said, 'What level is your car on?' We said six.

"He said, 'Well you best go and have a couple of drinks to celebrate new year because you're not going to get your car back'."

Kerry Matthews (r) was visiting Liverpool with partner Patricia Heath

Kevin Booth, who also parked in the Echo Arena car park, described the the flames and the smoke "as unbelievable".

He said: "People were saying that they would just wait and get their cars back. I thought, 'Have you seen the fire? Are you joking?'

"It was frightening, we could hear the bangs of car windows exploding."

The car park had a capacity of 1,600 vehicles

Mike Quek tweeted that there were "lots of explosions coming from the car park still".

"Driving into #liverpool #arena carpark and told to evacuate as car was on fire. Horses on ground floor. Hopefully everyone is ok," he added.

Merseyside Police said of the blaze: "Initial investigations indicate that an accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite.

"We believe that all vehicles parked in the car park have been destroyed."

Horses were led away from the arena

A spokeswoman for the Echo Arena said: "We regret to announce that the Liverpool International Horse Show has been cancelled tonight due to a serious fire in the multi-storey car park on site.

"All people and horses are safe and secure.

"We are working alongside the emergency services to ensure the fire is brought under control and to make the site safe as quickly as possible."

The arena said Liverpool City Council had opened a reception centre at Lifestyles in Park Road, Steble Street, L8 6QH, for those unable to get home or needing temporary shelter.

Aintree International Equestrian Centre offered its stables to those needing accommodation for horses.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said some horses had been moved inside the arena

On the horse show's Facebook page, organisers said it was with "considerable regret" that it had decided to cancel the evening show due to the fire.

It added: "All people and horses are safe and secure, and show organisers have thanked spectators, riders and support teams for their understanding and co-operation during this ongoing situation.

The Echo Arena said: "The possibility of rescheduling tonight's show to tomorrow has been discussed, but unfortunately this has not proven possible."

A number of people have responded to the show's Facebook post, many offering stables for the night for horses, accommodation for people stranded or lifts home.

Carl Hopwood wrote: "The smoke from the fire was really nasty. The security staff at the venue were really professional polite and very well organised in directing people away from the event."