Connell Brothers Ltd was drafted in to assess the future of a much-loved leisure centre ravaged in a fire now being investigated by police.

The Manchester Evening News understands what’s left of the damaged part of Clarendon Leisure Centre in Salford is expected to be torn down in an operation due to start on Monday.

The fire service said in an update on Saturday that firefighters remain at the scene. They are said to be working with Salford City Council and a demolition company to ‘keep the scene safe’ and discuss the next options.

Fire services sources have told the M.E.N, meanwhile, that the fire in the early hours of Friday caught quickly and ‘spread rapidly’. Work to make the building structurally safe before its demolition on Monday began on Saturday, we have been told at the scene.

Leisure centre bosses said Clarendon – known locally as ‘Clarendon Rec’ – ‘provided essential sport and leisure opportunities for the local community for over 40 years’. The centre was due to be reopened next month ‘after significant investment into refurbishment and a brand new state of the art gym’, they added.

Pictures taken by the Manchester Evening News on Saturday show how the centre has been reduced to a twisted mass of metal and corrugated iron. JCBs can be seen present together with a fire engine.

In a new statement on Saturday, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines remained at the scene on Liverpool Street on Saturday morning.

“Firefighters continue to monitor the building for any remaining hotspots and are working with the local authority and demolition company to keep the scene safe,” said a spokesperson.

“Crews were first called to the blaze just before 2.45am yesterday morning (Friday 10 May). At the height of the incident eight fire engines from across the city-region were mobilised to the scene, together with specialist appliances, and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels and jets to bring the fire under control and prevent further spread.”

In an update on Friday evening Steve Hassall, Salford Community Leisure CEO, reported ‘significant damage’ and spoke of the wider ‘devastation’.

He said: “It is with a heavy heart to report that due to a major fire that took place in the early hours of this morning, Friday 10th May, Clarendon Leisure Centre has been left with significant damage to the building. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and GMP are still on site investigating the incident and the centre will remain closed throughout this time.

“This is devastating news for all of us at Salford Community Leisure and our colleagues at Salford City Council, as Clarendon Leisure Centre has provided essential sport and leisure opportunities for the local community for over 40 years and we were excited to be reopening the centre next month after significant investment into refurbishment and a brand new state of the art gym.

“We appreciate the understanding of local residents and the support offered to us by local community groups. We would like to remind people to not attempt to visit the site at this time and we will continue to provide updates when we have them.”

Read the MEN article here on this link; https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/clarendon-leisure-centre-to-be-29150610