AN investigation has been launched after a fire inside a derelict pub.

Emergency services were called to the old Victory pub in Chorley Old Road, Halliwell, on Monday night.

A large amount of timber and wood had been set ablaze in the basement and first floor of the building.

No one was injured.

Firefighters from Bolton Central and Bolton North were called to the incident shortly after 6pm.

Crews used hose reels to tackle the blaze and used a pressure van to ventilate the building.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called shortly after 6pm on Monday to a building fire in Chorley Old Road, Bolton.

“Fire engines from Bolton Central and Bolton North attended the incident.

“Firefighters wearing six breathing apparatus, used three hose reels and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the fire involving a quantity of timber in the basement and first floor of the building.

“Crews were on scene for approximately 90 minutes.”

Two police vehicles also attended.

Work has begun to convert the building into 12 apartments, a shopping unit and a restaurant or café after plans were approved in January this year.

The applicant behind the plans, Fisal Mahmood of Bolton-based Mahmood Holdings Limited, has been made aware of the fire.

A spokesman from architectural design firm MADP said: "Unfortunately the property was broken into.

"We believe that a small amount of damage was caused by a fire.

"This has now been rectified and the project is still continuing."

The former pub and hotel dates back more than 120 years. However, the building is currently boarded up. Security measures had been put in place to prevent trespassing.

In January this year, planning officers approved an application to change The Victory into 12 apartments, a shopping unit and a restaurant or café.

This includes a combination of one and two-bedroom flats on the first and second floors of the building and two retail units on the ground floor.

The proposal also involves an extension to the rear of the three-storey property allowing for additional flats to be built as well as car parking area. The new flats will also be incorporated into the old structure of the building.

The application was approved subject to several conditions such as retaining certain features of the building.

It was the second fire inside a derelict or disused building that crews from Bolton were called to in five days.

Last Wednesday night, firefighters from Bolton Central attended a blaze on the second floor of a building in Derby Street.

A pile of bedding and a small amount of rubbish had been set alight, leaving a section of the premises smoke damaged.

Fire crews said there was evidence that people had been sleeping inside the property.

Martin Finch, watch manager at Bolton Central Fire Station, previously told The Bolton News: "The building has been disused for a number of years, and it looks like it is in the process of being refurbished.

"People need to be aware of the condition of buildings like this; entering and sleeping in them is dangerous."