The footage, taken by firefighters who rushed to the scene, shows the seven-storey car park in Liverpool completely ablaze.

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Video: New video shows ferocity of Liverpool fire

Video showing a city centre car park in the grips of a devastating fire that left up to 1,600 vehicles destroyed has been released.

The footage, taken by firefighters who rushed to the scene, shows the seven-storey car park in Liverpool completely ablaze.

Car alarms can be heard blaring, as well as numerous bangs and pops as the fire takes hold.

:: Liverpool car park blaze forces horse show to be cancelled

Twelve fire engines tackled the fire on New Years Eve
Image: Twelve fire engines tackled the fire on New Year's Eve

Images of burnt-out vehicles and the scale of the blaze have also been released by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, as its chief fire officer Dan Stephens said it could have been stopped earlier if sprinklers had been fitted.

The fire at the building next to Liverpool Echo Arena quickly spread soon after a Land Rover burst into flames on New Year's Eve.

It is believed the blaze started in a Land Rover on the third level of the car park
Video: 'Sprinklers could have stopped car park fire'

Mr Stephens told Sky News: "This is a complying building - there is no need for sprinklers … had sprinklers had been fitted, what's almost certain is, that they would have acted to suppress the fire."

He also suggested the car park, which was built in 2008, was built based on fire safety regulations which "would arguably have been based on data and analysis that would have been out-of-date then".

The scene after a blaze at a multi-storey car park near to the Echo Arena on Liverpool's waterfront
Image: Many cars were reduced to burnt out shells by the fire

The firefighter said the heat release rate from modern vehicles was "exponentially greater" than the vehicles of 20 to 30 years ago.

He said vehicles were "safer now" but the materials used to make them today were "far more flammable".

The scene after a blaze at a multi-storey car park near to the Echo Arena on Liverpool's waterfront
Image: Up to 1,600 vehicles were destroyed

The comments come after car park users made a swift exit, abandoning their vehicles, as the building was evacuated and 4,000 people were led away from the building as the final event of the Liverpool International Horse Show was cancelled at the venue.

Those living nearby were also forced to leave the area as 12 fire engines tackled the fire.

The council-owned car park is now expected to be demolished as a result of the inferno.

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Video: Car park blaze leaves trail of destruction

Former England and Liverpool footballer Mark Wright was also caught up in the chaos. He and his wife Sue were visiting the horse show but had to abandon their vehicle and flee along with six children.

Mrs Wright helped lead 80 horses stabled on the ground floor to safety during the incident.

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About 4,000 people were led away from the building as it was evacuated
Image: About 4,000 people were led away from the building as it was evacuated

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said the council would take advice on "lessons to be learned".

Investigations so far suggest an accidental fire within the Land Rover sparked the blaze.

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