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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Alan Weston

Drone footage shows damage caused by Wirral fire one week on

These drone images show the extent of the damage caused to a Birkenhead landmark by last week's devastating fire.

They reveal the roof of the former Hotel California pub and live music venue has almost been completely destroyed.

The New Chester Road site, which closed down last year, is already in the process of being demolished .

But that is almost sure to be hastened following last week's blaze, one of two which occurred less than a mile apart .

Drone images show the heavily damaged roof of the former Hotel California venue in Birkenhead (Louie Ruhe)

The other was at the site of a former barber's shop on Borough Road, next to the old Central Hotel building.

The fire on Borough Road was called in to the fire service at 5.02pm on Saturday, while calls went in about the New Chester Road fire at 6.11pm.

Overhead view of the damage caused by the blaze at the former Hotel California in Birkenhead (Louie Ruhe)

Firefighters spent several hours at the scene of the blaze at the old Hotel California, which caused smoke to come billowing from the building and could be seen for miles around.

Two fires in Birkenhead

Two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of arson after the fires. The males, aged 16 and 17, were released under investigation.

The Royal Castle pub, as it was then, became the Hotel California in the summer of 2004.

No firm plans are in place for the site yet, but one idea is that it could be a dual use, with a hotel above and an express supermarket or coffee chain below.

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