The memories of thousands of people have gone up in flames as an intricately hand-crafted wooden temple illuminated the city of Derry.

Personal messages on the bonfire remembered victims of tragedy: babies; suicides; a young policewoman killed in a crash; those who died during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland.

Among the fire starters were people whose lives were blighted by one of the most infamous events of the Troubles - the Bloody Sunday shooting dead of 13 demonstrators by soldiers.

Around 60,000 people have visited the 70ft tower made of carved plywood, which has been erected over the past two months in the Waterside area of Derry.

Many have left personal messages remembering loved ones.

Artist creator David Best said: "It is an incredible gift people are sharing with you.

"We had a father bringing his son's picture, it was a picture of his son who had hung himself, and trusting us to put that up.

"It is an incredible gift betrothed on us", he added.

Mr Best said there are around 40,000 names on the bonfire, etched into its wood or pinned to its structures on handwritten notes, some with flowers and photos.

The oldest visitor was a man of 89, who came to leave a tribute to his wife of 40 years who died from cancer.

Flames from an inferno at the base streaked up the steep sides of the structure, starkly highlighting its supporting beams in vivid shades of orange and yellow until the tower collapsed, prompting a roar from thousands of people gathered on the hillside overlooking Derry.

Within half an hour most of the structure was gone - transformed into flames illuminating the city.

The aim behind the temple was to bring together the artist from the USA's Burning Man Festival in Nevada and the people of Derry to offer an alternative perspective on bonfires.

It was brought to the city by Artichoke, the London-based company behind the Lumiere lights festival, which was a highlight of Derry's year as UK city of culture in 2013.

Mr Best said his work could help heal families for generations.