Fire-ravaged former Wellingborough snooker hall to be demolished

A former Wellingborough snooker hall which went up in flames last night (Sunday) will be demolished after its remaining structure was deemed unsafe.

Firefighters, police officers and Wellingborough Council representatives remain at the scene of the old Embassy snooker club in Chequers Lane today after the abandoned building was ravaged by a fire at about 9pm.

This morning police said they were treating the incident, which took seven appliances to put the blaze out, as arson. Police officers were deployed to manage road closures and to help ensure local residents remained safe.

The remaining structure has now been deemed as unsafe and will be demolished in the next couple of days with affected residents in the immediate area evacuated and housed by the council.

A Wellingborough Council spokesman said: “The council, following a request from the fire brigade, is supporting those affected by the fire and has assisted two households with temporary accommodation.”

Group commander Stef Douglas said: “We remain on the scene of this fire today with our colleagues from Northamptonshire Police and Wellingborough Council to ensure that this structure is made safe and demolished over the next couple of days.

“Police and fire investigators continue working together to establish how the fire started.

“I would like to thank local people for their patience and co-operation and would advise those in the immediate area against spending today and tomorrow in their gardens as it will be noisy and dusty with the building being demolished.

“I would also advise people to avoid the area as a number of cordons are still in place.”

Many shops in nearby Cambridge Street have been unable to open today. It's believed nobody was injured during the incident.

Huge flames could be seen across the town with smoke visible in Finedon. The video above by Jamie Lewis shows the flames behind Matalan.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about how the fire started to contact them.

Witnesses should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.