Flames were still shooting out of the building, on Whitehouse Road, three hours after the fire began, and the billowing smoke could be seen from as far away as Worksop.

About five fire crews tackled the flames with huge jets of water and the area was cordoned off with police tape.

Hundreds of residents had gathered around the area to watch the drama unfold.

Jane Lowder, who lives opposite the institute, was watching television when she looked out of her window at about 8pm to see the building engulfed in black smoke.

"I ran out to the street and called 999. The firefighters arrived very quickly but I can't get back into my house at the moment," she said.

"Someone said that they think there were gas canisters left inside and they could explode."

Also watching from nearby was Lisa Conway, of Whitehouse Drive, who used to go to the Institute, which closed down in the last few months and stood empty.

"There are so many people with so many memories of the Institute and people say it was left exactly how it was - with furniture and pictures and everything still inside," she said.

Several officers from Notts Police attended the scene and there was an ambulance on standby.

There are not believed to be any injuries as a result of the fire.

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