FIRE struck at Charnock Richard's Camelot theme park as one of the main attractions went up in smoke.

The facade of the 80-foot-high Tower of Terror was destroyed in minutes as flames engulfed the polyurethane foam castle.

The ride -- which was being taken down by workmen -- was set alight by a rogue spark from a cutting torch.

A spokesman for the theme park said: "We have a castle round the ride which caught fire.

"The ride itself suffered some scorching, but the fire brigade put the fire out in about 15 minutes.

"Workmen were dismantling the ride and an oxyacetylene torch set a spark off which set the castle theming on fire.

"As soon as they saw the spark they put out the fire inside, but then when they went to check the outside they realised it was already on fire."

Six fire crews -- including firefighters from Chorley-- attended the blaze which happened just before 2pm last Friday (November 10).

Nobody was injured in the incident, but smoke from the fire was reportedly seen from as far away as Euxton.

The fire comes in the wake of controversy over a proposed new rollercoaster ride -- set to replace the 12-year-old Tower of Terror -- as bosses at the theme park aim to boost visitor numbers.

Camelot chiefs are still waiting for the go-ahead for the new 'Vertigo' ride -- in which a train is lifted 40m high before dropping to half its height through a series of loops.

But the planned ride ran into opposition from local residents and Charnock Richard Parish Council, worried about drainage, noise, traffic problems and whether the ride would be unsightly.

Chorley Borough Council's development control committee discussed the plans at its October meeting.

And although council officers recommended the plans be passed, committee members decided a site visit should be carried out.

The visit -- which will include a look at alternative sites for the ride -- is likely to go ahead before the committee's December meeting, according to a council spokesman. REMAINS: debris from the fire