'Full demolition' of swimming pool area of fire-hit leisure centre ordered

A 'full demolition' of the swimming pool area of fire-ravaged Clarendon Leisure Centre in Salford has now been ordered by the council, it was revealed today.

The mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, said in an update the part of the building was 'too damaged to rescue and is in an unsafe condition'.

He said after the pool area is torn down, further investigation work would continue 'so that we can understand the level of damage the fire has caused to the whole centre and what this means for the building of the future'.

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The fire service, added Mr Dennett, has now left the site, which has been fenced off with round-the-clock security also put in place. The update comes as Greater Manchester Police confirmed the blaze is now being treated as 'suspicious', with an investigation underway.

Emergency services were called to the fire at the Liverpool Street building just before 2.45am on Friday. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made at this time, GMP added as the force issued an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

At the height of the blaze, eight fire engines from across the city-region were mobilised to the scene, plus specialist appliances. Over the weekend, JCBs were pictured at the site with images showing the twisted and scorched metal frame of the building.

Mr Dennett told the Manchester Evening News: "Following the devastating fire, staff from across the council and Salford Community Leisure have been working tirelessly. This work is ongoing and includes working alongside the emergency services, rearranging swimming lessons and looking at alternative provision for