Coldplay 2002 HQ: Fire sweeps through Liverpool's Parr Street studios (plus new East Troy pictures)

A fire which swept through a community recording studio in Parr Street, sparking traffic chaos as roads were cordoned off, is being treated as suspicious by fire chiefs. Smoke billowed over Liverpool city centre recently when the disused building – formely a Greek restaurant - was completely gutted by flames. [thanks RedGirl76]

Parr Street, Duke Street and Slater Street were among roads closed to traffic as crews battled to contain the fire which spread to an adjoining builders' merchants and garage. It is thought the building contained significant levels of asbestos. Crews extinguished the blaze at 9.30pm and investigators will now attempt to determine its cause. Merseyside Fire and Rescue said it was treating the incident as ‘suspicious’ and confirmed there were no casualties. Eye witnesses Mike Nolan and Peter Carr took photographs of the blaze at The Parthenon restaurant.

Parr Street Studios’ Studio 3 is where Chris Martin wrote some of Coldplay’s biggest hits, including The Scientist, and has been used by everyone from Echo and the Bunnymen to Oasis and (former owner) Phil Collins over the years.

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Thousands of pounds of equipment, including computers and mixing desks, was destroyed as the fire ravaged the former Parthenon Greek restaurant, in Parr Street, on Saturday afternoon. Investigators refused to rule out arson as the cause of the fire, which spread to an adjoining builders’ merchants and garage, and sent thick smoke billowing over the city centre.

Seel Street, Parr Street, Slater Street and Fleet Street were all cordoned off by the emergency services at 4.10pm, leading to city centre traffic chaos for motorists. No one was injured in the fire, which took crews five hours to extinguish. Hordes of spectators were drawn to the blaze and had to be moved back by officers, who feared the fumes smoke contained traces of asbestos.

Onlooker Pete Carr, a photographer, said: “It sounded like there were firecrackers going off inside. “You could really feel the heat and soon all of the roof was exposed.” The building, which was being used as a community recording studio for local bands, was completely destroyed by the blaze.

New photos of Coldplay at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI (25th July 2009)