THE Bolton businessman killed in the fire at Vietnam's International Trade Centre had moved to his office in the building less than a month earlier.

Father-of-two John Wallwork, aged 59, had an office on the fifth floor of the building in Ho Chi Minh city, which was destroyed by the blaze, as reported in later editions of the Bolton Evening News yesterday.

Mr Wallwork, from Egerton, ran his own firm which aimed to bring organisations together to improve shipping and docking facilities in Vietnam.

His devastated wife, Christina, and grown-up children, Catherine and Richard, heard about the tragedy yesterday morning and have flown out to Vietnam.

Mr Wallwork, who grew up in Great Lever, had spent most of his working life in the Emirates but he and his wife kept a house in Egerton.

He had recently moved from an office at the New World Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city, where his wife also worked, for a firm called Medicare until six months ago.

Shocked neighbour Laurie Lowe, who had known the couple for 25 years, said: "He was a wonderful friend. It is a big shock and his wife is devastated. I was with her when it was confirmed that he had been killed. It was just dreadful.

"John had worked in Vietnam for 10 years but he was born and bred in Bolton. He loved the outdoors and we shared many good times walking together.

"They had only moved into the new office at the start of October. He was on the fifth floor but the fire service couldn't get beyond the fourth. It is tragic."

Mr Wallwork had worked for BP running shipyards and oilrigs before setting up his own company three years ago.

Philip Wilson runs Heart of Vietnam Travel in the same building where Mr Wallwork was based until recently. He also knew the Bolton man through the British Business Group Vietnam.

He said: "I knew him and his wife for about two years. He was a popular member of the group out here. I was very saddened to hear the news."

Mr Wallwork's son, Richard, is an army officer in the Royal Artillery and his daughter Catherine works for Operation Raleigh. Both live in London. Up to 100 people are believed to have died in the fire in the six-storey building, where several companies had offices.

Another British man who died in the blaze has been named as Bruce Tuffee. He is believed to be in his mid-30s, from London, and had only been in Vietnam for three months.

AFTERMATH: The street outside the building is deserted following the fire