The owners of a fire-ravaged Victorian landmark were told yesterday to make the ruins safe within 28 days - or see it bulldozed.

The Bonded Warehouse at The Close, opposite the Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle, was gutted by the massive blaze in March, but the fragile shell is still standing - and in danger of collapse.

Magistrates at Gosforth in Newcastle ruled yesterday that owners Zirca Ltd had to begin work before winter weather conditions started and further endangered the unstable area.

If the firm fails to act on the order within 28 days, Newcastle City Council would be able to knock down the buildings and charge the company for the cost.

London-based Zirca's managing director Toby Atkinson said yesterday that the company was determined to save the Grade II listed building and would accept the Dangerous Buildings Order.

He said work on the warehouse had been delayed since March because it had taken him five months to secure £1m from banks to pay for the operation.

He told the hearing: "We were two weeks away from starting development before the fire broke out.

"It has been a big issue to get us back on track, which we have now done in the last five months, and are ready to go."

Newcastle Council principal building control surveyor, Paul Nichol told the hearing that council chiefs wanted the building demolished within 28 days because it was so unstable.

He said the deteriorating building could collapse at any point when the harsh winter weather set in.

He said: "Our concern is the fact that winter is approaching and we will get winter rain, but the main concern is winter gales.

"It depends on the conditions and the strength of the wind, but it will occur at some time soon.

Chairwoman of the Gosforth bench, Eileen Rowe, told Mr Atkinson: "You are being given this opportunity and we would all love to see it being fulfilled to a lovely old building."

Electrical contractor Gary Heaton, 40, of Mitford Close, Chester-le-Street, who is buying a top-floor, one-bedroom apartment, said he had expected to move in almost two years ago.

He said: "Originally we were told they would be ready by the end of 2004. I know they have had a lot of problems, but I am confident that they will start work by the end of October."

A Newcastle City Council spokeswoman said last night: "The council has been very patient with the owners allowing them sufficient time to come up with a workable solution aimed at retaining this fire damaged building.

"Given the passage of time since the initial incident and the continued dangerous condition of the building, the city council had little alternative but to make application to the court for an order requiring the building to be made safe."

Page 2: Three fires strike the building in eight years