Demolition for part of Neath hall

Seventy firefighters fought the blaze on Thursday night

Parts of the Gwyn Hall in Neath are to be demolished after a devastating fire which tore through the Victorian former theatre.

The gable ends at the top of the side walls will be knocked down in the next few days after advice from experts.

However, the local council leader said it appeared that at present its facade and rear wall had been saved.

Residents have also been assured that historic treasures once housed there were removed before Thursday's fire.

The fire destroyed much of the building, which was undergoing a £4m restoration to become an arts centre.

I am still committed to ensuring that Neath will have an arts and cultural venue in the future to be proud of Council leader Derek Vaughan

Police and fire investigators say they are keeping an "open mind" about the cause of the fire.

Neath Port Talbot Council leader Derek Vaughan said it had been decided to demolish the triangular gable ends early next week after advice from a number of specialists, including structural engineers.

"The work will be carried out safely and as quickly as possible to minimise disruption to traders and shoppers in Neath," said Mr Vaughan.

"We are all still devastated by the fire and the cause is still being investigated by the fire service and police.

"At the moment it seems that the facade and the rear wall of the building have been saved.

"I have been personally committed to the refurbishment of the Gwyn Hall and ensured we secured the funding required. I am still committed to ensuring that Neath will have an arts and cultural venue in the future to be proud of."

YOUR VIEWS Both myself and my neighbour were so very shocked at the sheer height and power when the flames took it over Louise Bevan, Neath A selection of comments and photos

He spoke after it emerged that records and documents dating back to the 17th Century and a large collection of oil paintings escaped damage.

Flames ripped through the 120-year-old four-storey building and 70 firefighters worked through the night to save surrounding properties.

At its height the fire could be seen for miles around and civic leaders say it was a "bitter blow" for the town.

Until earlier this year the hall was home to a collection of dozens of oil paintings of former mayors of the town, some dating back more than 100 years.

A giant mural of World War I Prime Minister David Lloyd George receiving the freedom of the borough also hung there, but all had been removed when the renovation started.

The interior of the hall as it once looked

Joyce Havard, secretary of the Neath Antiquarian Society, said: "There are a lot of rumours going about, but they are all in the old town hall and are being looked after by the town council.

"The archives, records and historic documents which go back to the 1600s were removed about four years ago."

Mrs Havard, who watched the fire destroy the building, said: "I thought 'thank goodness' they were removed".

Neath MP Peter Hain and AM Gwenda Thomas both visited the scene and joined local people in voicing dismay at the destruction of the town centre building.

Built in 1887, the Gwyn Hall Theatre was a local landmark and had served as a music hall, for council work and latterly as a music venue.

It was due to reopen as a modern arts centre next spring, with cinema facilities, an interactive cafe bar, and state-of-the-art stage, and facilities for concert and weddings.