A NIGHTCLUB wrecked in a mystery blaze will not reopen until 2003, despite rumours it was to be relaunched next weekend.

John Musso and brother Pino have been forced to put back the re-opening of the Temple and Club Mezzo until February next year at the earliest.

A rumour had been circulating in Bolton that the club would open its doors again next weekend, but Mr Musso said that was not true.

"I've had so many calls from people asking -- unfortunately it's not true. We did want to re-open sooner but various things have happened to prevent that," he said.

"We will be back as soon as possible but it looks like February next year at the moment, although even that's not definite. It might change depending on a number of factors."

A massive clean-up and repair operation has been under way at the Temple and Club Mezzo following the blaze in October last year. It was hoped it would re-open in late summer.

Work involves a major refurbishment for the 3,000-capacity clubs, although the exact details of the venue's new looks are not being announced yet.

But Mr Musso revealed that the club was hoping to re-start the popular Carnival Chaos nights -- a massive monthly dance event which attracted around 3,000 clubbers and artists, including Prodigy drummer Rob Berlyn -- in the near future.

"We are in negotiations with a large venue to re-start the nights on the last Saturday of the month after being inundated with requests.

"It's too early to confirm anything, but it will definitely be within five miles of Bolton."

The latest setback means it will be the second year on the run that revellers have not been able to spend Christmas and New Year at the popular nightspots.

The fire, which caused more than £100,000 worth of damage, is believed to have started in a room above the Skylark Chinese restaurant next door to the main nightclub.

Just 24 hours earlier, a mill being developed into a restaurant in Burnley by Mr Musso's brother, Pino, was wrecked in a blaze.