A FORMER pub that was ravaged by fire will be bulldozed.

The Green Dragon Hotel pub building on Gartons Lane, Sutton Manor was left as a burnt-out shell after the blaze in April.

The fire saw the roof totally destroyed by the flames.

An application, submitted by Matthew Berridge James to St Helens Council, to demolish the former pub building was granted approval this week.

In May Bold ward councillor David O'Keefe called for a quick decision on the building, before it fell "into further disrepair".

The building has seen several fires over recent years. And a cannabis farm was discovered at the building in December 2017.

St Helens Star:

St Helens Council's decision granted approval to the demolition on condition that it is carried out within five years. The decision does not grant approval for anything else on the site, such as a future development.

A letter from consulting civil and structural engineers William Jones & partners, which was included in the application, stated: "It is clearly evident that the multiple fire events have substantially reduced the timber roof structure to charred remnants.

"There appears to be virtually nothing remaining of the roof structure".

It described the building as "a dangerous structure" and that "localised collapses of internal walls and chimney stacks could initiate further damage and collapse of external walls".

It added: "We consider that its present condition restricts any attempt to carry out localised demolition and it presents an immediate threat to anyone entering the building whether permitted or not.

"Our recommendation would be to carry out the demolition of the complete building as soon as possible, ensuring that the method of demolition is carefully planned."