Smoke could still be smelt 12 hours after firefighters fought a blaze that ripped through a derelict former nursery.
Firefighters were called to Scarisbrick New Road and Chambres Road in Southport around 5.21pm last night, where they found the building well alight, with flames coming out of the roof.
Nearly five hours later, at 10.16pm fire crews were able to leave, having extinguished the fire and made scene safe.
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Just across the road is Alan, a neighbour who has lived in his home on Chambres Road for 20 years. Speaking to the ECHO while staring at the burnt-out remains of the former nursery across the road, he said: "I saw the blue lights outside and came out.
"I undid the gate for the emergency services because they were trying to get in the other side. The way that people get into the building is over the wall because it's not secure at all.
"The most worrying aspect is that it's already an incredibly dangerous building. They're risking their lives and emergency service workers' lives. Last night the front wall fell down this way but if it had been the back of it it could have hit the building next to it."
The three-storey building is believed to have been left empty for years despite a planning application being approved to turn it into flats.
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) spokesperson said: “The poor condition of the building means that for safety reasons it is not possible to carry out an investigation into the cause of the fire at this time.”
In a statement at the time, MFRS said: "Three MFRS fire engines and the aerial appliance is in attendance, as well as one fire engine from Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service. On arrival, crews found a three-storey building with fire in the second floor and roof of the property.
"Crews sectorised the incident, with main branches in use externally in two sectors. The aerial appliance is also in use as a water tower."
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