Lorry crashes into Southport Pier days after devastating fire

The collision is the latest in a run of bad luck for Southport Pier

12:29, 05 Sep 2025Updated 15:48, 05 Sep 2025

A lorry has crashed into Southport Pier just five days after the 165-year-old attraction went up in flames. The Grade II listed pier, which is the oldest iron pier in the country, caught fire on Sunday night, August 31, and spread around 20 metres before firefighters were called to extinguish the blaze.[1][2]

This morning, September 5, Merseyside Police were called to reports that a HGV had crashed into the historic pier. A witness said the lorry was attempting to drive under the pier on Marine Drive when the top of the vehicle collided with the structure.

The damaged lorry was pictured parked a short distance from the pier, near the Ocean Plaza car park.

Merseyside Police were at the scene, and no road closures were in place.

A police spokesman said: "We received a call at 10.25am today that a truck had been in collision with the pier/bridge on Marine Drive. There was no damage to the bridge/pier. Damage to the truck is being deal with by the owners."

The lorry appears to belong to SSO Logistics, a transport company based in Haydock[3] and St Helens[4].

The company has been approached by the ECHO for comment.

The collision is the latest in a run of bad luck for Southport[5] Pier after a fire broke out just before midnight[6] on Sunday, damaging the boardwalk beneath The Smoothie Stop cafe.

A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service told the ECHO: "Fire crews were called to Southport Pier, on the promenade in Southport, August 31. Crews were alerted at 11.48pm and on scene at 11.54pm, with three fire engines in attendance.[7][8][9]

"Crews arrived to find a hut on fire on the pier affecting an area around 20 metres by five metres on and below the pier. Crews secured water supplies and began to fight the fire, which had spread to a cafe building, using main branch hoses both on the pier and from below it.

"The main body of fire was extinguished by around 12.50am on the morning of September 1 and firefighters continued to damp down the scene and monitor for hot spots, with the fire completely extinguished by 1.34am.

"Crews left the scene after handing over to Sefton[10] Council and security staff at 2.08am.

The fire is believed to have been accidental, the cause being an electrical fault."

A Sefton Council spokesman said: "We would like to thank the swift actions of both our onsite security teams and Merseyside Fire and Rescue in dealing with a small fire on Southport Pier last night.

"The fire was quickly extinguished and at this early stage we do not believe it to have caused any significant damage to the structure.

It is not being treated as suspicious and we are advised that the cause of the fire was an electrical fault."

The devastating fire occurred just two months after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government's intention to support the re-opening of Southport Pier,[11] which was "temporarily closed for essential maintenance" in 2022.

It was closed by Sefton[12] Council on the advice of structural engineers[13] after a period of extreme weather[14].

Necessary repairs were estimated to cost a whopping GBP13 million.

The closure of the pier had a significant impact on the town's leisure and tourism offer[15], with many residents and business owners keen to see the pier re-opened.

In July, Sefton[16] Council leader Marion Atkinson confirmed that restoration works could start[17] "within six week to eight weeks" of new government cash being confirmed.

References

1. ^ went up in flames (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ extinguish the blaze. (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Haydock (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ St Helens (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Southport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ a fire broke out just before midnight (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ ECHO (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ Southport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
9. ^ with three fire engines in attendance. (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
10. ^ Sefton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
11. ^ to support the re-opening of Southport Pier, (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^ Sefton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
13. ^ on the advice of structural engineers (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
14. ^ weather (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
15. ^ significant impact on the town's leisure and tourism offer (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
16. ^ Sefton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
17. ^ confirmed that restoration works could start (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)