A LARGE Blackburn mill left gutted in a huge blaze will be partly demolished, it was confirmed yesterday.

Roads in the area remained closed as council officers met with the owner of the unit, in Birley Street, and insurance officials to discuss its future.

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Officials from forensic investigators Burgoynes were also in attendance, as large clouds of dust billowed from the building’s blackened shell as they examined the damage.

More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze overnight on Monday, and managed to stop it from spreading to nearby buildings.

The building, formerly known as the Manner Sutton Street boiler works and foundry, behind Alkron Properties, is thought to be home to both a tyre recycling business and a toilet roll factory.

A council spokeswoman said a multi-agency meeting was held on Tuesday to look into the fire and its cause.

Incident commanders from the fire service, and representatives from the police, Environment Agency, Electricity North West all attended.

The spokeswoman added: “The main building problems are gable walls, which will need reducing in height for safety.

“A high-level roof steel-clad structure belong to an immediately adjoining unit has also been damaged. An existing party wall has also suffered from movement, again causing instability.

“However, this wall is facing an open-air storage yard area, which we understand is under the same ownership and is already perimeter secured with fencing.”

The council’s environmental protection team also attended the site.

An investigation into the cause is under way, with a fire service spokesman saying it was not unusual for the reason for the fire to not be determined so soon after a fire of this magnitude.

Investigators are also scouring social media for tips, and studying footage captured by a police helicopter.