A DERELICT warehouse which was engulfed in flames during a dramatic blaze is being demolished.

The building, on Hanover Street in the town centre began to collapse after the blaze tore through it on Wednesday morning.

The building's owner, KD3 began demolition work on the building yesterday.

Jim O'Byrne, watch manager at Bolton central fire station, said: "While crews doused the main flames, there were seats of smouldering fires in the debris, but we couldn't reach them because of the rubble."

Firefighters doused the smouldering rubble yesterday morning after leaving it burning overnight. They remained on stand-by as the building was bulldozed.

Council officers were also on site to make sure there was no danger to the public.

Flames and smoke from the burning building could be seen across the town centre on Wednesday.

During the incident, Moor Lane was closed and Hanover Street was sealed off as 40 firefighters battled the blaze.

Firefighters managed to get the flames under control within an hour and Moor Lane was re-opened at 3pm.

The fire was the latest in a series of deliberately started blazes in the town centre.

Station commander for Bolton, Ian Bailey said: "There are the issues around damaging the environment and the impact it has on the town centre.

"And that's not to mention the number of fire service resources brought into the area to deal with a completely unnecessary incident.

"We would far rather be available for true emergencies where people might need rescuing."

Planning applications have been submitted to redevelop the area and build an apartment block on the site of the demolished mill.