PART of Leigh was closed off as firefighters tackled a blaze which destroyed a social club which locals had branded a dangerous eyesore.

Roads in the Plank Lane area were blocked by police as firefighters struggled for three hours to quench the blaze at the disused Plank Lane Catholic Club which arsonists have targeted several times.

The building, which has been boarded up and derelict for several years, was wrecked in the fire which began at 11pm last Thursday.

And as firefighters left the scene on Friday morning locals called for its demolition after it was taped off after visit from safety officers.

Plank Laner Kathleen Valentine (pictured), who lives in Hamblett Street just around the corner from the building, said: "This is the second time this week the place has been on fire. It is always being set alight.

"Maybe now someone will do something about it -- we're all fed-up with the state of the place.

"The walls are dangerous and could fall on someone, it is about time it was demolished. The club was popular in its heyday but has been closed for a few years."

Leigh fire brigade sub officer Terry Peers told the Journal : "It was a precarious job, because of the danger of building material collapsing we had to fight the fire from the outside.

"When we got there flames were coming through the roof. Three times in the past week or so there have been malicious fires at the club but they were small ones."

Firefighters from Leigh and Hindley used an aerial ladder to reach the roof where they tore off slates so they could pump water into the building. A local authority inspector called to the scene said the building would probably have to be demolished.