DETECTIVES probing a suspicious blaze which wrecked a Bolton nightspot said it was fortunate no one was killed or seriously injured in the inferno.

Hundreds of clubgoers had to be evacuated from the Temple and Club Mezzo after the blaze broke out shortly after 3am on Saturday.

The roof of the nightspots, which are owned by businessmen John Musso and his brother Pino, were badly damaged.

The fire came just 24 hours after a mill being developed into a nightclub by Pino Musso in Burnley town centre was destroyed by fire.

The cause of the fire at the Temple and Club Mezzo is not yet known and detectives have not ruled out a link between the two fires.

Scenes of Crime officers carried out a fingertip search at the nightclub on Saturday morning with fire investigators.

Det Chief Insp Paul Buchanan, who is leading the inquiry, said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious but it is not yet known how it started.

"We are liaising with Lancashire police about the fire in Bolton to see if there is any connection and at the moment, no link has been made. It was very lucky no one was injured.

"Clearly with any nightclub that is full of people, it is dangerous if a fire breaks out."

More than 70 firefighters battled for three hours to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties.

Firefighters believe it started in a room above the Skylark Chinese Restaurant, next door to the main nightclub.

It quickly spread through communal roofing at the premises in St George's Road and Kay Street.

The alarm was raised by barmaid Naomi Murphy, aged 18, after she spotted thick black smoke coming from Club Mezzo's VIP lounge.

The clubs, which opened in 1992, are expected to remain closed for some time.

Anyone with information about the two fires are asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 856 5640 or Crimestoppers.