The firefighters are damping down, the police are investigating, and somewhere in the middle of it all, shattered and stinking of the flames which all but destroyed it, sits the Locarno and more than a century of Swindon history.

It is usual in these circumstances to wait before offering comments on what should happen next.

But one thing is certain, if this building can be salvaged and we, like anybody who cares about this town, hope so then it should be salvaged with no expense spared.

It is bad enough that it was left, during the course of decades, to fall into such a dreadful state, rotting away and plastered in posters and graffiti.

The Locarno is one of Swindon's last great historic buildings, and dates back to the proudest period of the town's history.

Let us hope owner Gael Mackenzie's plans to regenerate the area do go ahead and the facade of this building will be retained and not bulldozed the fate which befell The Hermitage in the nearby Lawns.

Our planning department at Swindon Council must be resolute on this.