AN investigation has been launched into a suspicious blaze at the disused Duke St Sports and Social Club this week.

Firefighters rushed to the club just after 3.30pm on Monday, December 15.

Thick smoke billowing from the premises was blown into adjacent property and across busy Pall Mall by the strong wind.

Traffic ground to a halt as police sealed off Duke Street to vehicles at the Pall Mall junction.

Residents in the nearby Bradford and North Housing Association developments, Richmond House and Richmond Court, were forced to keep their windows and doors closed. Janice Daly, deputy warden at Richmond Court, raised the alarm.

"I was helping one of the residents to carry drinks in for the Christmas party and saw all the smoke and phoned the fire brigade," she said. She added that she hoped the building would now be demolished as it had become a playground for children who were making a nuisance of themselves.

ADO Brian Caine said: "It is looking like the outcome will be deliberate ignition by persons unknown. The exact cause may never be established, but we know someone has been in there."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.