A FIRE-RAVAGED social club will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes for a grand re-opening in mid-June.

Ronnie Pugh, owner of Yatefield Social Club in Burnley, was devastated by the fire which ripped through the club's concert room, function room, lounge and toilet facilities.

He got a call at 2am on April 9 from the alarm company to say the Cog Lane premises alarm had sounded.

Ronnie, 51, said: "When I arrived I saw three fire engines and police cars and smoke was billowing out from everywhere.

"I could have closed the door and walked away and but for the support of the club's members I might have done that.

"But they have been very encouraging and everywhere I go they ask, 'When is our club going to be back open?'

"I am planning to re-open in the second week in June and invite the Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley, Coun Peter Swainston and his sister-in-law Sheila, who are members of the club, to perform the re-opening ceremony."

Ronnie, who has been in the pub trade for 32 years, spent £75,000 on the club since he bought it two years ago and saw the membership rocket from 400 to 660. The refurbishment, decoration and re-wiring of the club is set to cost £250,000.

Ronnie said: "We have not been able to salvage anything because the damage was so severe, but we are going to return the club to way it was before the fire.

"I would like to thank all of the staff who worked hard and came in in very difficult circumstances to pull the ceilings down and fill 17 skips.

"I would also like to thank Jim Thompson from Matthew Brown brewery who has been very supportive, and neighbours Tom and Doreen Igoe, who have provided refreshments and sorted out our mail.

"Ken and Ann Price at The Woodtop pub have provided a home for the Yatefield teams and I received more than 200 phone calls from people wishing me well."

Burnley police have still not charged anyone with the attack which is being treated as arson.

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