MORE than a dozen businesses have been closed and town hall work disrupted following a fire which left a Nelson town centre club in a dangerous condition, it was revealed today.

The Auditorium nightclub, formerly the Grand Cinema in Market Street, will now have to be at least partially demolished after being left in an unsafe condition following last Sunday's blaze.

Eleven shops in Market Street are unable to trade, Lambert's market was ordered to close, the public library was shut and town hall staff have moved out of their offices.

Market Street was cordoned off today and following advice from the Health and Safety Executive the area sealed off was extended to include streets at the back of the building.

Pendle Council staff, including chief executive Stephen Barnes, have been unable to work in their offices at the front of the town hall because of the danger. The town hall telephonist has been working from a temporary switch board in a corridor.

Director (services) John Kirk said: "The front of the building is out of bounds. There is a large amount of masonry dangling out there and if it came down it would destroy the front of the town hall."

Mr Kirk said said he and the chief executive were like gypsies moving from office to office using whichever desks became empty.

He added: "We hope the immediate crisis should be over by tomorrow evening when the masonry should be down to a safe level."

Pendle's building control officer Jim Cooper warned that disruption could last for days or even weeks. He said: "We are coming in for criticism and naturally the shopkeepers and market stallholders are not happy. The locals are upset, but safety must come first."

Mr Cooper said contractors had begun work immediately and were taking the building down stone by stone.

The roof had gone in the fire leaving the four-storey walls unsupported.

Mr Cooper said if any of the huge stones fell into the street they could fly and bounce causing absolute mayhem.

"It is a very awkward situation, the businesses cannot trade but obviously safety must come first.

"There is, for example, a lot of glass in the library building and the market roof is asbestos both of which would fly all over. Potentially it is very dangerous indeed."

Coun Frank Clifford said: "The fire and its aftermath is causing a great deal of disruption both to the town hall we cannot use the front of the building in any shape or form.

"It is a major inconvenience and disruption to the town. The council is handling the demolition of the building and will claim back the cost at a later date."

Investigations are being carried out into the cause of the fire which at its height was being fought by seventy fire officers from across East Lancashire.

They were able to prevent it from spreading to neighbouring businesses and the market but the century-old building was left in a dangerous condition.

The building is owned by Central Properties, of Livinstone Mill, Burnley.

A spokesman said today that it was not yet known whether the building would have to be taken down to ground floor level.

"We should know more in the next day or two," he added.