AN ABANDONED sports pavilion previously branded a ‘public danger’ was almost razed to the ground by a fire this week.

Fire crews raced to a blaze at Annick Pavilion in Broomlands in the early hours of Tuesday morning and found the building well alight.

Firefighters took almost two hours to get the ferocious blaze under control and had to enlist special assistance from Kilmarnock crews.

The flames were eventually extinguished at around two hours but the pavilion building was deemed unsafe so fire crews remained at the scene until building control team arrived from North Ayrshire Council.

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire crew from Dreghorn received a call at around 12.05am on Tuesday of a building on fire in Gigha Terrace and were on the scene within five minutes.

“Upon arrival fire crews found a single storey building well alight and a high reach appliance was sent from Kilmarnock Fire Station to assist.

“Two main high pressure jets were used to bring the fire under control and the main seat of fire was extinguished shortly before 2am.

“The sports pavilion building had suffered a partial collapse which meant building control officers from North Ayrshire Council were requested to attend.

“The cause of the fire is still under investigation.” WATCH: this video by John Keeman captures the blaze https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYhExpGdSNo The Annick Pavilion has previously been blasted for being a potential death trap to children who play in the area.

The area, which sites near Pladda Avenue and Gigha Terrace, was closed by council chiefs three years ago and has been left to rot, according to some local residents.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Our officers have been out this month prior to the fire to ensure the ongoing security of the building.

“Our building standards officers are currently liaising and working with the Fire Service to assess the damage and make the building safe.

“Once we have secured the building we can then assess the situation and consider all options as we move forward.” Meanwhile, vigilant Irvine residents were on the ball at the weekend after a fire broke out in an industrial estate.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received 23 emergency 999 calls from people in the Irvine area after a blaze broke out in North Newmoor Industrial Estate on Sunday at around 3.30pm. Eagle-eyed residents raised concerns after a plume of black smoke started billowing from the direction of the industrial estate, just off Long Drive.

Two appliances from Dreghorn Fire Station arrived on the scene within eight minutes of receiving the first call and the fire - which turned out to be plastic containers alight - was extinguished by around 4pm.

Investigators say the fire was most likely started deliberately.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire crews received 23 calls reporting a fire in North Newmoor Industrial Estate on Sunday at around 3.30pm. Two appliances from Dreghorn attended and discovered the fire involved some plastic containers and was brought under control relatively quickly with both appliances leaving the scene by 4pm.”