Fire-hit town centre building due to be demolished

Rubble remains in the street seven weeks after the fire and graffiti has appeared on some of the windows

A town centre building that was hit by a major fire will now be demolished, a council said.

The blaze in the empty former ex-serviceman's club started in the early hours of 30 March in Sheep Street, Northampton and was being treated as arson.

Nine fire crews were called out and nearby roads were closed.

West Northamptonshire Council said a section of the road would be closed while the building was being razed following "expert advice from the demolition company".

The building, at the junction with Church Lane, had been empty for a few years.

The emergency services were called at 05:50 BST.

People living nearby were told to keep their windows and doors shut because the fire had generated a large plume of smoke.

Some nearby properties lost power while the incident was dealt with.

The council said a section of Sheep Street, between Church Lane and Lady's Lane, would closed to pedestrians and cyclists during the demolition.

It thanked residents and businesses for their "patience and cooperation while this work is carried out".

West Northamptonshire Council did not give a timeframe for the demolition.

Northamptonshire Police said it was continuing to try to identify who was responsible for the fire, but added there had been no arrests yet.