A FIRE that swept through one of the stands of a disused former football stadium could force its demolition sooner than originally planned, it was revealed yesterday.

The arson attack on the West Stand of the Feethams stadium, in Darlington, caused a significant amount of damage to the already dilapidated ground.

Although the demolition of Darlington Football Club's former home had been planned for next month or April, speculation grew yesterday that bulldozers may move into Feethams even sooner.

The stadium has fallen into an increasing state of disrepair after Darlington FC relocated to its Neasham Road base in 2003, and has been the target of vandalism and arson attacks.

Darlington Borough Council was forced to serve a demolition notice on the owner of the Feethams site - Darlington Cricket Field Trust - after inspections were carried out and revealed that the stadium posed a risk to public safety.

Yesterday, safety inspectors revisited the site in the wake of Wednesday night's fire to assess the level of damage.

Structurally the stand remains intact.

A demolition contractor has been appointed by the Cricket Field Trust, and it is thought work to dismantle the stadium - at an estimated cost of £200,000 - is only weeks away.

Brian Johnson, chairman of the trust, said the situation was being reassessed in the wake of the fire damage.

"In view of what has now happened, I will be speaking with officials from the council and demolition contractors to see if the fire has caused the need to take any more swift action than was otherwise planned," he said.

"There are very strict procedures that have to be gone through, and it will take about a month to clear administration proceedings.

"But it remains the case that demolition work to remove those things deemed to be dangerous will take place by the end of March."

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council confirmed safety inspectors had been at Feethams, but could not comment on their findings.

"We visited the site to see if there were any additional health and safety issues to consider after the fire," she said.

"We are talking to the Cricket Field Trust and the demolition contractors who have been appointed, and will continue to monitor the situation."