A DERELICT social club will have to be demolished after fire raged through the building late last night.

Roads in the western part of Leigh were blocked by police as firefighters struggled for three hours to put out the blaze at the disused Plank Lane Catholic Club which arsonists have targeted three times in the past few days.

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

Leigh Fire Brigade Sub Officer Terry Peers said: "Because of the danger of collapse 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 rip slates off the roof before pumping water inside the building. A local authority inspector called to the scene said the building would probably have to be demolished and the work is expected to start today.