BBC NEWS | UK | England | Lancashire | Fire damages famous Blackpool ride

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src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" /></td> <td width="629" valign="top"> <table width="629" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="629"> <a name="startcontent"></a><span class="ds"><span class="lu">Last Updated: </span>Friday, 21 May, 2004, 09:28 GMT 10:28 UK </span> <img height="2" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="2" alt="" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" /> <div class="mvb"><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="629" alt="" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/dot_629.gif" /></div> <div class="mvtb"><table border="0" width="416" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a onClick="popUpPage('http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/3735015.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=370,height=445','Mailer')" 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colspan="3"><div class="mxb"><div class="sh">Fire damages famous Blackpool ride<br /></div></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="416"> <font size="2">   <table cellspacing="0" align="right" border="0" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img height="152" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="203" alt="The Grand National" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40181000/jpg/_40181141_pleasure_beach_203.jpg" /> <div class="cap">The Grand National has been a favourite since 1935</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  <b> One of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's most popular and historic rides will have to be repaired after a major fire. </b> <p> No-one was injured but the wooden-framed Grand National, which opened in 1935, was one of three rides damaged in the fire. <p> Fifty firefighters took two and a half hours to control the fire which broke out at about 2130 BST on Thursday. <p> An investigation started on Friday but the site, which attracts seven million visitors a year, is open to the public. <p> <b>Popular ride</b> <p> Firefighters took water from the Valhalla and The River Caves rides to douse the flames affecting the Grand National roller coaster ride nearby. <p> It is believed the fire started in the queuing station for the Grand National ride. <p> Tracks and ride cars were destroyed near the ticket station. <p> Pleasure Beach spokeswoman Gill Bridge said: "The Grand National is synonymous with Blackpool. <p> "It's one of our most popular rides and many people have fond memories of riding it with their families when they were younger. <p>  <table cellspacing="0" align="right" border="0" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img height="152" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="203" alt="Blackpool Pleasure Beach" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40178000/jpg/_40178711_pleasurebeach203.jpg" /> <div class="cap">A number of buildings apparently caught fire</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  "We intend to restore it to its former glory. <p> "We're relieved because the damage could have been so much worse." <p> The Alice in Wonderland and Trauma Towers rides were also damaged. <p> Asked if the close proximity of the rides had helped the fire to spread, she replied: "That is part of the charm of the place, the fact that we have so many rides on such a small site." <p> Eyewitness Marc Ellis, 33, from Fleetwood, Lancs, said: "It's a real shame, this is a really popular place". <p> Security staff patrolling the 42-acre amusement park, which was closed for the day, raised the alarm at 2120 BST. <p> Fire investigators say they are keeping an open mind on the cause of the fire although at this stage there are no suspicious circumstances. <p> The Pleasure Beach reopened on Friday. <p>  </font> <br /><br clear="all" /> <div class="mvtb"><table border="0" width="416" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a 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