THE devastation caused by the huge blaze that destroyed Ashton market can clearly be seen as work gets underway to rebuild it.

When the fire ripped through the Victorian Grade II-listed building three years ago, the heat was so intense it melted metal.

It was completely gutted and Tameside politicians, traders and shoppers feared the worst. The only thing left standing were the walls and clock tower. What caused the blaze remains a mystery, but it is believed it started inside the building, near a phone box close to the town hall entrance.

Now work has started on shifting the debris in the first phase of a é15m redevelopment project, which is expected to be completed by spring 2008. The work was given the go-ahead after an insurance payout of é9.5m.

The rest of the funding will come from the council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Denise and Colin Croft, who ran a haberdashery store that had been in the family since the late 1800s, were among the first to look around the rubble-strewn shell as work started.

Denise said: "It is very upsetting to see it and, at the same time, it is also amazing.

"I have not yet seen the plans for the new market, so I don't know what it will look like, but I am looking forward to the work being completed."

'Heartbeat'

Kieran Quinn, of Tameside council, said: "The market was the heartbeat of Ashton and it's not until something is gone that you realise how much it means to people.

"I am looking forward to the work being completed and the market once again becoming the thriving heartbeat of Ashton."

Peter Rawson, project manager, said: "We are working to retain the original features and we will retain the external walls, which need to be strengthened.

"It's a big project and I am hoping we have foreseen as much as is possible."

Susan Knight, Ashton under Lyne Civic Society chairman, said: "We are looking forward to it being rebuilt."

The famous Ashton market hall was built in 1881, and the town was granted a charter to hold a market in 1284.

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