A fire that ripped through an LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes has been declared accidental by police.

The blaze erupted at the Pink Punters venue at 2am on Sunday, with Thames Valley Police ruling out any third-party involvement.

A 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes, initially arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, has since been "eliminated" from police inquiries, the force confirmed.

Chief superintendent Emma Baillie said: “We understand that an incident like this can be concerning for the local community, but I want to reassure people that following a thorough joint investigation with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS), we have found no evidence of any criminality.

“The fire is believed to have been accidental in nature, and thankfully no one was injured.

“I would also like to commend the staff at Pink Punters, who worked quickly and effectively to ensure everyone was safely evacuated.”

Pink Punters has been running for more than two decades and has dancefloors and…