THE cause of the fire which destroyed a Nelson nightclub remained a riddle today because the building is too dangerous for forensic experts to enter.

An investigation by fire officers and police into the blaze at the Auditorium Club, Market Street, Nelson, late on Sunday night has been hampered by safety risks.

Damage has been put at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The club, formerly the Equinox Club and before that The Grand cinema was destroyed in the ferocious fire. At the height of the blaze about 70 firefighters were involved in preventing it from spreading to nearby shops.

The Auditorium, owned by local firm AT Leisure, only opened on April 1 following a complete refurbishment and installation of a state-of-the-art sound system.

Det Sgt Mick Collins said today: "Our inquiries have not got much further as yet for the simple reason that the building is still off limits for safety reasons.

"Our inquiries are continuing but until the experts can get in and establish the facts we have to keep an open mind.

"It was a ferocious fire and at this stage there is no obvious reason for it."