A LIFEBOAT crew assisted firefighters last night after a blaze broke out underneath Felixstowe's pier.The fire started along a wooden beam underneath Felixstowe pier shortly before 6pm last night.

A LIFEBOAT crew were called to assist firefighters after a blaze broke out underneath Felixstowe's pier.

The fire started along a wooden beam underneath the pier shortly before 6pm last night.

A fire engine from Felixstowe attended the scene though firefighters could not access the flames because the beam was covered by concrete.

The Harwich Lifeboat was drafted into action to pump seawater in the area of the fire, which had broken out about 40ft away from the beginning of the pier. No one was injured.

Assistant divisional officer Paul Seager, of Suffolk Fire Service, said the fire was thought to have been caused by cutting equipment used by contractors currently working at the site.

"It would appear that their cutting equipment may have set fire to a wooden beam which is supporting the concrete floor of the pier," he said.

"Because of the concrete floor we could not get out on to the beam that was burning so we used the life boat to apply water underneath to put the fire out."

A crew from Thames Coastguard was also in attendance.