ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNeve Gordon-FarleighResidents were advised to keep their windows and doors closedA man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a blaze at an LGBT+ nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.
Flames quickly engulfed the Pink Punters nightclub in Fenny Stratford, near Milton Keynes, at 02:09 BST.
At its height, 12 appliances from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service tackled the fire at the popular Watling Street venue.
Thames Valley Police said while the specific cause of the fire was yet to be determined, a 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes had been arrested and remained in custody.
Ch Supt Emma Baillie, commander for Milton Keynes, said no-one had been injured and people had been evacuated "quickly and effectively".
"This was a significant fire in which a large number of people had to be evacuated," she said.
"Our officers have arrested a man in connection with this incident. He remains in custody at this time, while we carry out ongoing inquiries.
"At this time it would be too early to comment on any particular motivation for this incident and we would respectfully ask for people not to speculate."
Eyewitness Molly Firman described how the blaze took hold at the packed venue.
"It just didn't seem real in the moment," she said. "Am I dreaming this? Is it actually happening? Before you knew it, it was just intense."
Firman, from Clophill, described the venue as her "favourite place" and had visited Pink Punters countless of times.
She had been out with a group of friends when she saw the flames.
The 24-year-old said: "We arrived just before 10 o'clock and it was just a normal night - drinks, music, no problems - and then just after two in the morning, me and my girls were outside the cocktail bar... and the fire alarm was going off.
"Out of nowhere all staff and security were screaming, 'you need to get out now'... then [we were] all out on to the road and from the road looking over it felt like in minutes - it wasn't a small fire - but that fire expanded greatly."
She described the blaze as a "surreal experience", with thousands of people watching on from the roadside.
"It's truly devastating to say the least," said Firman.
"We really hope it will be back. When I think of going on a night out, that's pretty much the only place I will think of going. If Pink's was not to be here anymore, I think it would affect a lot of people."
Earlier, the fire service said crews were expected to remain at the scene for a "considerable amount of time" and had been able to scale back appliances to dampen down hotspots.
Road closures were expected to remain in place for some time, police said.
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