A LUXURY yacht worth £9m has been destroyed in a fire in front of hundreds of people on Poole Quay.

Firefighters said the 34-metre long Sunseeker boat was destroyed when the blaze started around 11pm on Friday night.

It is believed the new Mexican owner was due to take possession by the end of the month and his crew, who had been getting used to the boat, saw the fire break out while they dined on the quay.

Fifty firefighters were at the scene at the peak of the blaze.

The fire service said the cause remains unknown but the police said the fire was not thought to be malicious.