THE GRADE Two-listed Liscard Hall in Wallasey has been demolished after it was critically damaged in a night-time fire.

Firefighters from across Wirral and Liverpool were called to tackle the fire shortly after 3.15am on Monday morning.

A roof collapsed in the former science and art college building in Central Park, Wallasey, as the council-owned building was engulfed in flames that spread across two of the three floors.

Five pumps and an aerial appliance were used in an effort to contain the spread. Crews managed to get the fire under control but were still there at 1pm that day damping the area down. However, the strucural damage was so severe that what remained of the building had to be torn down.

No-one was injured and police are investigating the cause.

Liscard Hall was built in the mid-19th century and was one of the longest surviving mansions built from that era. It closed in 1982 and has been vacant since.

A council spokesman said: “Following Sunday night’s fire which caused extensive damage to Liscard Hall, structural engineers have decided that the building has been made unsafe and has to be demolished.

“After incidents of vandalism, council officers took advice from police and fire officers on improving the security of the Hall. As a result, all reasonable steps were taken to secure the building.

“Measures costing in excess of £25,000 included additional security features and the removal of all paint and other combustible materials.

“While the council remains deeply saddened by the fire, we remain committed to putting the site to good public use and will bring forward proposals in the near future.”

Liscard councillor Leah Fraser said: “While it looks like yobs are the cause of this fire, I’m afraid the council must also take some of the responsibility for allowing the building to fall into disrepair.”