FORMER solicitor Mike Cresswell, who lives in Brookside Close, Bradshaw, was employed by the council at the time of the blaze.

"I was lying in bed on the Sunday morning, listening to the radio, and I heard there had been a terrific fire at the town hall," he said.

"I could see the tower three miles away and I was worried because it was my place of employment and I thought all my records might have gone up in smoke.

"I rushed down there and saw the aftermath."

Luckily, Mr Cresswell's work had not been damaged by the fire.

"There was no water damage to most of the building because the firemen had done such a good job.

"They had made dams, with roller towels, across corridors, to prevent the water from flooding the building."