Residents in a Northumberland town have been left devastated after their local club burnt down in a huge blaze.
Emergency services were still at the scene 12 hours after the fire broke out at the Working Men's Club in Haltwhistle. Six fire engines were called to the venue on Main Street at around 2am on Thursday morning.
Roads were taped off by police while and firefighters, sent from Northumberland and Cumbria, tackled the flames and neighbours were evacuated in the middle of the night.
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Some residents, who live nearby, and local businesses lost their electricity as a result of the incident.
The roof has been completely destroyed by the flames, which are now under control. However a spokesperson from Northumbria Fire and Rescue Service said part of the building will now be demolished.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Graeme Binning, from Northumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The fire has been under control for a number of hours however due to the nature of the collapse of the roof structure there will be pieces of unseen smouldering fire.
"Once the building starts being demolished, in a controlled manner, that will mean we will be required to remain on scene for the foreseeable and hours ahead."
Mr Binning said the end of the building will be demolished by Thompsons of Prudhoe and an assessment will be carried out. He said there was no indication yet as to how the fire started and investigations will be carried out.
Many local residents said the club is a huge part of the community and has hosted many live bands over the years. Two residents remembered seeing The Nolans play at the venue during their heyday.
Residents said the Working Men's Club was getting ready for the festive season and had planned to hold a Christmas party for children on Saturday.
Peter Short, 75, said he has visited the club everyday for around 15 years. The retired slater and tiler, who lives in the town, said: "I go in everyday for a pint. It’s terrible. Like the fire, I'm totally gutted. They were just setting up for Christmas. It will not be Christmas without the pub. It was very popular, it will be a big miss."
Shealene Anderson, 45, is a cook at the Manor House Inn in Main Street. Shealene, who lives in Haltwhistle, said: "It’s emotional for me that it’s gone. I have got a lot of amazing memories in there. I used to go with my mam to the bingo on a Friday and Sunday. My kids had parties in there and I met my husband in there. I feel close to my mam in there as she’s no longer here. I think I'm all cried out today."
Nigel Cowan, 57, who is from the town but now lives in Hexham, Northumberland, said: "My mam rang me this morning and said 'You know the club, it's burnt down'. I was shocked. That’s the central point for the working lads and lasses in the town. It’s a huge part of my youth.
"The peak time for that place I would say was in the 1970s. The Nolan's have played there, a few bands have played there. The place was shaking with people dancing."
David Hardy, who lives in the town, attended the quiz at the club on a Tuesday. The 76-year-old, who previously worked in customer service, said: "I found out this morning and it was shocking. I'm pleased everyone has got out.
"I have been going there since I was 18. I have got a lot of memories in there. There’s been some big acts in there - the Nolan family were in there."
Maureen Hardcastle, 80, who lives in the town. added: "I feel sad. It’s very fortunate that nobody was hurt."
One resident, who lives nearby, said she had no electricity following the fire. The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "My husband woke me up at half 2 and said ‘haven’t you heard what’s going on outside?’ We went and opened the bedroom window and couldn’t believe it. I don't know when I'm going to get the electrics back on.
"For Haltwhistle, this is a big day. People are sitting in there when I take the dog out at four o'clock in the afternoon. There's always somebody in there, it's really well used. They had a big function room and it's going to be a massive miss coming up to Christmas. I'm so pleased that nobody has been hurt."
Another woman in the town, who did not want to be identified, said: "All of the roof has gone by the looks of it. There are flats and people living around it.
"I would have been in there on Saturday night. I’m gutted it’s burnt down near Christmas. There would have been a lot of people in there on New Year’s Day. There are certain locals that go no where else."
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