THE OWNERS of a Maryport Bakery have 'failed to comply with a court order' to carry out vital works following a serious fire last year.

Work to demolish the structure will now be carried out by Cumberland council and a procurement process is currently underway, with the organisation notifying the owners that any costs will be 'sought' from them following completion.

The fire at The Bakehouse, on Senhouse Street in Maryport gutted the building last February, closing the towns high street for an extended period of time.

In the immediate aftermath of the blaze work was carried out to make the building safe by the council and emergency services, however any additional works were deemed the 'responsibility of the property owners'.

A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: “Following the fire and the damage to the building last year, we worked with the emergency services to make the building safe.

"Additional works were then the responsibility of the property owners. As no action was taken, a Court Order has been obtained setting out the requirements and timeframes for works to be completed.

“The owners have failed to comply with the terms of the Court Order. Therefore, the owners have been notified that works will be carried out by the council in default, following which the costs for carrying out the works will be sought from the owners.

“A procurement process is underway and works will commence once a contractor has been appointed.”

The building has been further damaged in recent months with fire crews having to attend the property and make it safe during strong winds brought by Storm Jocelyn last month.

Fire crews were called out to the building on January, 22  'following reports of bricks and debris from a building blowing into the roadway due to the strong winds'.

As a fire investigator from Cumbria FRS was unable to complete a full investigation, the cause of the fire is not yet confirmed, however it was not suspected arson had taken place.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our investigator was unable to complete a full investigation as the building was unsafe to enter.

"He did not suspect arson however, therefore he left it for the premises’ insurers to arrange for making the building safe and appoint their own commercial investigator."

The bakery owners have been approached for a comment.