they'll go to the wall ANGRY traders fear businesses may go bust or never restart because of the disruption caused by the devastating fire at the former Grand Cinema.

Pendle Council has called a crisis meeting tomorrow with traders june8after revealing some businesses in Market Street and Cross Street are likely to be forced to stay closed for up to six weeks.

Around 40 shops and stalls have been affected by the blaze, which destroyed the Market Street building -- recently relaunched as the Auditorium nightclub after several years as the Equinox club.

The building will be demolished, despite attempts to save its listed fascia. Many of the stones were cracked and could not be saved. Others have been saved and stored in a council depot.

Alan Gradwell, whose son Stuart runs the family butcher's business in Cross Street market, said: "We're dead enough at it is when it comes to trade. Now we're losing all round because we can't even open for the customers we have.

"It could kill the market if it's closed for weeks. What few customers we have might have gone by then."

Peter Armfield, who runs a hairdressing salon next to the market, has re-opened for business but his normally full diary is empty, with just one appointment made on Tuesday.

"People think I'm still closed," he explained. "Cross Street is just dead. There's no-one going past. It's just killed the job all together.

"Last week I had half the trade I would normally have because people thought I was shut."

Lisa Thomason, of Thomason's sewing machine and haberdashery shop in Market Street, added: "We're hoping no-one will fold because of this, but no-one knows what will happen."

All the traders interviewed vowed to carry on but predicted others would decide to pack their bags and not return.

"It's an absolute disaster and tragedy for the people affected," said Tony Beckett, former chairman of the town centre forum, which represents shopkeepers. It's a blow to the whole town centre but I just hope it doesn't stop people coming to the town."

Market stallholders have been told they can set up stall in the pedestrianised area rent-free.

Council officers will meet the manager of the Admiral shopping centre to discuss whether businesses can set up temporarily in empty units in the centre.

Most of Market Street and the market has been closed since the blaze on May 28.

Public access to Bunny's, Microtech and R Lee chemists in Market Street will re-open early next week, and a covered walkway will allow people into the main entrance of the Town Hall.

Police and fire investigations have been hampered by the need to make the building stable.

Forensic teams were due to start sifting through rubble today. The building will be demolished once investigations are completed.