THE Locarno has become the subject of another court order after the fire which almost saw it destroyed.

At the end of May the bell tower of the Victorian building was damaged in a blaze. That fire followed a previous blaze last year, which gutted most of the building.

Although it does not need to be torn down, more specialist work is needed to make sure it stays safe.

Swindon Council issued a statement yesterday saying that in consultation and agreement with the owner, it had applied for a court order requiring the owner to carry out further work to secure the building's stability.

The Locarno is owned by Gael Mackenzie of Old Town.

Work is due to start in the next few days, and the fenced-off area around the building will stay in place.

Jemima Milton (Con, Chiseldon and Wroughton), the council's portfolio holder for transport and the environment, said: "I am very pleased the court has supported our action. We can now move quickly to save this important part of Swindon's heritage."