WORK has been seen taking place at the former House of Lords and Bar Continental site in Barrow.

The historic buildings have been empty since a major fire in 2018.

Earlier this year Barrow Council ordered the owner of the site to make urgent improvements, threatening potential legal action.

But workers have been seen operating next to the former Bar Continental in Abbey Road.

Scaffolding still stands around the former Abbey Road Working Men's Club, which was badly affected by the fire.

The council tendered a contract worth up to £150,000 in a search for a building company to take on the work if necessary.

It said discussions with the building's owner had taken place.

If the owners carry out the work needed to a 'sufficient' standard, then no further work would be needed.

A contract tender said:  "Barrow Borough Council have commissioned a number of surveys since the fire to ascertain and monitor the ongoing condition of the building.

"A structural survey by CARE-accredited engineers Blackett-Ord Conservation Engineering has highlighted a number of works that are urgently necessary to preserve the historic character of the building remnants.

"Barrow Borough Council are progressing enforcement action against the building owners pursuant to Section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which enable the Council to execute any works which appear to be urgently necessary for the preservation of a listed building in its area.

"This commission is part of a series of enforcement cases that the Council are escalating to improve the historic town centre as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme.

"The Council are seeking the services of a building contractor with experience working with heritage buildings to carry out these urgent works."

In the last five years, nearly £50,000 of public money has been spent on scaffolding and other costs, according to data obtained by The Mail.