ONE of Newport's most important historical buildings is likely to be demolished after a fire tore through it last night - forcing residents to flee their nearby homes.

Local people and firefighters arriving to battle the flames had a lucky escape when part of the Old Lawns Club building in Maindee collapsed.

Police and fire chiefs launched an arson probe after the blaze at the Grade II listed club. Today, a police spokesman said that it is expected that the 19th century building will be demolished. Part of the facade and the centre of the building collapsed.

The building, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, between Kensington Grove and Kensington Place, Maindee, was badly damaged after fire broke out at 6.30pm.

Residents from Kensington Grove and St John's Road were evacuated as a precaution. Michael Edwards, 36, from Albert Avenue, was among the large crowd who witnessed the event. "It was a bit dramatic. The centre of the building collapsed and came down towards the firefighters, and it could have been very nasty.

"It was a beautiful building in its day and it should have been restored to its former splendour by the council.

"That's another piece of Newport history that may have gone forever." The building, owned by 42-year-old Newport businessman Shahib Mahmood, was derelict but renovation work had began only last week.

He was among the crowd who watched the firemen bring the flames under control. Mr Mahmood said: "It was going to be my home. I was planning to move in hopefully before Christmas. It is heartbreaking and mindless."

He said he would have to wait for the council's building control officers to decide if it would have to be demolished.

Mr Mahmood said the building dated to1829 and that its value ran into a few hundred thousand pounds.

It had been used for functions and had a number of bars but had been closed for about the last ten years.

Sergeant Mike Wallen from Gwent Police who was at the scene said that the fire is being treated as suspicious.

He said that a full investigation involving scenes of crime officers and detectives was due to take place today.

More than twenty firefighters, in three fire engines from Malpas, Maindee and Duffryn and in a water bowser from Cwmbran fought just over an hour until the fire was brought under control.

A youth has been arrested in connection with the incident.