Maryport bakery fire: Owners 'failed to comply' with court order

Cumberland Council is aiming to carry out the works in the next few weeks

Work to make a fire-hit bakery safe is to be carried out by a council after the building's owners "failed to comply" with a court order instructing them to arrange the work themselves.

The blaze gutted The Bakehouse in Maryport, Cumbria, last February, as well as the building's upper floors.

Cumberland Council said it would appoint a contractor and seek to recover its costs from the owners.

The building's owners have been approached for comment.

'No action taken'

The council said it worked with emergency services to knock down the front of the building in Senhouse Street in the days following the fire, with further work being "the responsibility of the property owners".

A spokeswoman for the authority added: "As no action was taken, a court order has been obtained setting out the requirements and timeframes for works to be completed.

"The owners have failed to comply with the terms of the court order.

"Therefore, the owners have been notified that works will be carried out by the council in default, following which the costs for carrying out the works will be sought from the owners."

The building occupies a prominent spot on Maryport's main shopping street

The council was unable to confirm the extent of the work, but said it hoped to carry it out over the next few weeks while much of the street is closed for alterations to car parking.

An investigation to determine the cause of the blaze was launched last year, but Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it had been unable to complete it "as the building was unsafe to enter".

A spokesman added arson was not suspected and that the matter was left for "insurers to arrange for making the building safe and appoint their own commercial investigator".