Dunluce Centre: Crews tackle fire at former tourist attraction

Nearly 50 firefighters were at the scene of a blaze at the Dunluce Centre in Portrush on Monday night.

They were called to the former tourist attraction at about 20:30 BST.

Six fire engines were in attendance, as well as an aerial appliance from Londonderry and a support vehicle from Kilrea, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.

Operations were scaled back from about 23:00 BST.

Earlier in the evening, there were 46 firefighters present.

Video of the fire circulating on social media showed a large amount of smoke coming from the empty building.

Ulster Unionist councillor Norman Hillis, who visited the scene, said it appeared the fire "had been contained quite quickly".

There has been concerns about the centre for some time, he added.

"There has been anti-social behaviour," he said.

"That has been ongoing for a number of years and we have had issues before about securing the premises."

The centre, once one of the area's top tourist attractions, closed its doors in 2013 due to falling visitor numbers.

Earlier this year, it was reportedly in the process of being sold to a businessman from County Donegal for £1.21m, and the plan was to turn it into a family entertainment complex.