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| Great Yarmouth fire: Blaze a 'tragedy' for the town | Great Yarmouth fire: Blaze a 'tragedy' for the town |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Town leaders have described a fire that destroyed a popular landmark at the height of the summer season as a "tragedy". | Town leaders have described a fire that destroyed a popular landmark at the height of the summer season as a "tragedy". |
| Twenty-two fire engines were called at about 03:20 BST to the Regent Superbowl and indoor market in Great Yarmouth. | Twenty-two fire engines were called at about 03:20 BST to the Regent Superbowl and indoor market in Great Yarmouth. |
| The fire took almost seven hours to put out and an investigation into the cause is under way. | The fire took almost seven hours to put out and an investigation into the cause is under way. |
| Town leaders have described the loss of the popular landmark at the height of the summer season as a "tragedy". | |
| 'A real blow' | |
| A spokesman for Regent Superbowl, which opened 53 years ago, said it was the oldest working bowling alley in the country. | |
| He said: "A significant part of tenpin bowling history has been lost. This is a very sad time for our business, as well as the Great Yarmouth community." | |
| Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader Graham Plant said it was a "real blow" to the town. | Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader Graham Plant said it was a "real blow" to the town. |
| He said: "The Regent 'Bowl has been there for so many years now and it's so popular. A lot of people will miss it and it's a real tragedy for the town, it really is, I'm absolutely devastated." | He said: "The Regent 'Bowl has been there for so many years now and it's so popular. A lot of people will miss it and it's a real tragedy for the town, it really is, I'm absolutely devastated." |
| The blaze engulfed the Regent Road building, causing it to partially collapse. | The blaze engulfed the Regent Road building, causing it to partially collapse. |
| At its height, 88 firefighters tackled it and the plume of smoke could be seen up to 11 miles away in Acle and Lowestoft. | At its height, 88 firefighters tackled it and the plume of smoke could be seen up to 11 miles away in Acle and Lowestoft. |
| David Ashworth, assistant chief fire officer for Norfolk, said: "The fire developed quite rapidly where there was a sudden in-rush of air. That would have been a consequence of one of the roller shutters becoming displaced or falling or as a consequence of the roof structure giving way. | David Ashworth, assistant chief fire officer for Norfolk, said: "The fire developed quite rapidly where there was a sudden in-rush of air. That would have been a consequence of one of the roller shutters becoming displaced or falling or as a consequence of the roof structure giving way. |
| "That would have allowed a sudden in-rush of air, particularly oxygen, which enhances the intensity of the fire considerably." | "That would have allowed a sudden in-rush of air, particularly oxygen, which enhances the intensity of the fire considerably." |
| More than 100 homes were left without power while UK Power Networks made the area safe. | More than 100 homes were left without power while UK Power Networks made the area safe. |
| Meanwhile, traders who operate from the building said they were "devastated". | Meanwhile, traders who operate from the building said they were "devastated". |
| Stephen Cook, who runs a memorabilia stall, said he had up to £150,000 worth of uninsured stock there. | Stephen Cook, who runs a memorabilia stall, said he had up to £150,000 worth of uninsured stock there. |
| "Everything which has taken me the last three years to build from scratch has gone overnight," he said. | "Everything which has taken me the last three years to build from scratch has gone overnight," he said. |