WORK to flatten a derelict building branded a 'deathtrap' by a fire chief will be completed by the end of this week.

The former sausage skin factory in Eachill Road, Rishton, had been set alight four times by vandals in as many months and 15 firefighters with three fire engines were called in to tackle the last blaze.

Accrington fire brigade commander Pete Ashworth said he was angry his officers had been forced to go into the building, where the roof was likely to collapse, and demanded that action be taken after saying there was a tragedy waiting to happen if youngsters carried on playing inside.

John Kerr, site manager of Timeless Properties, Park Road, Great Harwood, pledged to demolish the building to prevent any accidents from happening in the future and a demolition crew moved into the site two weeks ago to remove asbestos and begin dismantling the building.

Ashworth Demolition workers fenced off the entrances and secured the most dangerous parts of the building with scaffolding and are currently removing the debris. Alan Ashworth confirmed that the work would be finished by Friday.

Coun June Butler said: "It is coming down beautifully and people are so pleased that the building is on its way down. When it was a sausage skin factory the smell was very upsetting for locals' stomachs so people were glad that it closed down. Then it turned into a playground for the children to go in and smoke and drink and became dangerous. It is better that it happened this way before someone was killed."

Council planning manager Brendan Lyons said Mr Kerr's plans to build houses on the site had been refused as there was not enough space, though the council did support housing development on the land.