Historic Brighton seafront carousel catches fire

A historic seafront carousel, near the Palace Pier, caught fire last night (Sunday 4 August).

The fire, which started shortly before 10pm, was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent firefighters from Preston Circus to the promenade just west of the pier but the blaze had been put out by the time they arrived.

The carousel, known as the “Golden Gallopers”, was built in 1888 by Frederick Savage at his workshop in King’s Lynn in Norfolk.

It was brought to Brighton by Owen Smith in 1997. Mr Smith and his son, also called Owen, have been operating on Brighton seafront from Easter to September ever since, according to My Brighton and Hove.