A fire has engulfed a former ballroom turned nightclub in West Yorkshire.
The blaze at the Venue 73 nightclub, previously known as the Ritz Ballroom, in Brighouse, began on Saturday evening.
Images from the scene show extensive fire damage to the rear of the building on Bradford Road, which has been empty for five years.
West Yorkshire Police said road closures were in place on Bradford Road and Bonegate Road due to the “large fire”. A spokesperson asked people to stay clear of the area while fire crews tackle the blaze, and advised nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed due to the smoke.
The BBC has contacted West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for further details about the incident.
In August, a planning application was submitted to Calderdale Council to demolish the building and replace it with a Starbucks drive-thru.
Originally opened in 1937, it has been used as a cinema, bingo hall and was home to The Ritz Ballroom from 1981 to 2017.
It hit the headlines in 2017 when lawyers from the Ritz Hotel ordered its owner to change its name or face legal action.
The building closed as a ballroom later that same year and as a live music space in February 2020.
