Luton Airport car park is to be demolished following the devastating fire that damaged hundreds of vehicles.

The airport said the car park would need to be “fully demolished” and any vehicles parked on the ground floor and floors one, two and three are “not recoverable”.

Work is ongoing to remove around 100 vehicles from the top deck “to stabilise the structure”, it added.

“This has been a painstaking task and has taken longer than expected, not least because we have been hampered by periods of bad weather and strong winds,” the statement said.

The fire was started accidentally last month due to a vehicle fault, Sky News understands.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in connection to the incident on 10 October.

It is believed the man, who has been released on bail, was arrested as a precaution.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer with Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said as many as 1,500 vehicles were in the car park at the time – with up to 1,200 believed to be damaged.

The airport added most insurance claims have been settled.

“On behalf of everyone at London Luton Airport… would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through this unprecedented situation,” the airport concluded.

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The fire in October caused the cancellation and delays of dozens of flights at London Luton airport, and a number of people were taken to hospital.

One witness told Sky News: “You could hear cars exploding.”

Another witness said his vehicle was one of those inside the multi-storey car park.

He said he was inside the airport when the fire broke out, but knows his car has been affected as “all Car Park 2 is completely finished”.

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