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KILLER FIRE

Man dies and 10 horses killed in huge blaze at posh country club

Fire destroys stables and a caravan where firefighters found the man's body

A MAN has died and around ten horses were also killed after a massive fire in the stables at a posh country club.

The blaze broke out at Shorrocks Hill in Formby, Merseyside, in the early hours of this morning.

 The smouldering wreck of stables after a fire early today at Shorrocks Hill country club
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The smouldering wreck of stables after a fire early today at Shorrocks Hill country clubCredit: Twitter / FormbyBubble
 Police and firefighters are investigating the cause of the fatal blaze
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Police and firefighters are investigating the cause of the fatal blazeCredit: Twitter / FormbyBubble

Emergency services raced to the scene before finding the body of the victim inside a caravan.

It took crews an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The inferno reportedly gutted both the stables and the caravan nearby.

 A man died and a number of horses were also killed as the fire gutted a stable block and a caravan
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A man died and a number of horses were also killed as the fire gutted a stable block and a caravanCredit: Andy Gill of BBC North West Tonight
 The Shorrocks Hill country club was formerly owned by a Mr Universe bodybuilder and now houses a nightclub
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The Shorrocks Hill country club was formerly owned by a Mr Universe bodybuilder and now houses a nightclubCredit: Andy Gill of BBC North West Tonight

Merseyside Police and the fire service have launched a joint probe into the cause of the blaze.

Shorrocks Hill was owned by ex-Mr Universe Terry Phillips until financial difficulties forced the former bodybuilder to relinquish control.

In 2007, the Ascot Group bought Shorrocks Hill Country Club for £4m, with the aim of breaking in to the corporate leisure market.

A nightclub and restaurant were launched, although the restaurant later closed.

There is currently a proposal to build new homes on the 50 acre site.


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