FIRE precautions should prevent another Top Storey disaster today -- as long as clubs and other entertainment venues are well-managed and obey the rules.

With a string of preventative measures in place, a repeat of the 1961 fatal club blaze seems impossible.

But Greater Manchester fire chiefs say lives depend on the effectiveness of such schemes.

Said Divisional Officer Philip Gleaves: "It would be foolish to say that it's impossible that it would happen again.

"All the fire precautions in the world won't work unless they are well managed.

"Otherwise there is obviously a potential for disastrous consequences. It's down to how the fire precautions are managed as to how effective they are for people's safety."

And he added: "We learn from experience."

Divisional Officer Gleaves, based at head quarters in Swinton, said that the Top Storey fire influenced the Licensing Act 1964.

The Act allows for licenses to serve alcohol to be issued by Magistrates Courts -- once fire and safety precautions are met.

"We look for a higher standard than in office blocks," said Assistant Divisional Officer Phil Ingham.

"The unfortunate fact of life is that legislation in this country is driven by disasters.

"Top Storey was the driving force behind the Act."

His colleague Phil Gleaves added: "The Top Storey fire was quite a high profile incident. It made people sit up and think about standards at the time."

Bernard Carter, Bolton Metro Senior Building Surveyor, said the fire is in all the text books. It's famous all over the world," he said.

"As tragedies occur, the law changes."