A HUGE blaze has destroyed the country club at Newton Hall Holiday Centre at Staining.

More than 30 people were led from nearby chalets at the camp site as fire gutted the single storey club house in less than two hours.

Around 65 firefighters tackled the blaze, which began at about 11.45pm on Tuesday and carried on into the small hours of Wednesday morning. The cause is still under investigation.

In the dark night the blaze was visible for several miles, sending flames and smoke high up into the sky over Staining. At the fire's height, ten fire engines were involved, with crews coming from as far afield as Lytham, Fleetwood and Wesham. Firefighters perched on an aerial ladder to fight the fire from above as the Lancashire Police helicopter encircled the scene.

But the heat and flames were so fierce that half of the building's roof collapsed, and the fire spread to an adjoining private bungalow. It's understood a family living there had already fled to safety.

It's believed firefighters also dampened down nearby caravans to prevent the fire spreading to them, and that even the site's swimming pool was used as a source of water to help fight the raging fire. Station Officer Ian Alder of Lancashire Fire and Rescue said yesterday: "When we took over at 9am, one of the comments made to me by colleagues was that when they arrived here last night they just could not stop the fire, it was as though they were just pouring petrol on it, not water."

As well as dealing with flames fanned higher by strong winds, crews also faced the possibility of explosions from CO cylinders used in the bar, and nearby camping gas cylinders, he said.

"It was a pretty difficult fire," SO Alder added.

Although Newton Hall's owners declined to comment, it's understood the country club bar, disco and a children's play area were all destroyed in the fire. It's believed the rest of the site was unaffected and is still open.

A salvage operation began yesterday and fire investigation officers visited the scene. According to a Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman, it was too early for officers to rule out arson, but that it was 'looking likely' that the cause was accidental. "They're looking at the possibility of an ashtray flaring up or an electrical fault," he said.

Staining Road, which runs past Newton Hall was sealed off during the fire, but re-opened early yesterday.