Blaze at former school causes rush-hour chaos in city centre

May 20 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Blaze at former school causes rush-hour chaos in city centre

A HUGE blaze in a former school caused chaos at rush-hour in Chester last night.

The fire at the former Abbey Gate primary school, in Victoria Road, near the Northgate Arena, broke out shortly before 4pm.

It caused traffic chaos in the city centre and train services were suspended after a nearby railway line was closed on safety grounds.

The roof in the Victorian building collapsed during the fire and there were still fears the wall may fall in the direction of the railway line.

Crews and building control officers were assessing the stability of the wall before deciding whether it was safe to allow the railway line to be reopened.

Five engines and two aerial appliances were sent to tackle the blaze.