Firefighters have extinguished a blaze which broke out at the soon-to-be-refurbished Dreamland in Margate, Kent.

Fire crews were called to the site to reports of a fire at the heritage theme park’s Scenic Railway. Police and Dreamland trustees assessed damage on-site and the railway – set to be one of the main attractions when the park reopens – was undamaged by the fire, which was instead confined to a disused building next to the railway.

The Dreamland Trust has applied for planning permission to restore the 88-year-old Scenic Railway – the UK’s oldest rollercoaster – which was partially damaged by fire in 2008.

A learning and visitor centre, complete with working pinball machines, opened at Dreamland last week, welcoming 3,000 people over its first three days, and will remain there for the next 12 months while restoration work is carried out.