These are the dramatic aerial photos of a now-demolished former nightclub following a fire on Wednesday night.

The huge blaze at the Marbella Mambo nightclub and Venue cinema in Birkenhead, started shortly after 9.30pm.

Crews spent hours at the scene after the fire spread from the roof space to the rest of the building on Conway Street.

ECHO reader Louie Ruhe sent up a drone above the devastated ex-nightspot to snap these startling pictures.

Demolition had started within hours of the flames being extinguished, and by early Thursday evening, most of the building had been flattened.

It is understood the owner ordered the bulldozers to come in.

Aerial shots of the former Birkenhead nightclub Marbella Mambo nightclub and Venue cinema following a fire on Wednesday night
Aerial shots of the former Birkenhead nightclub Marbella Mambo nightclub and Venue cinema following a fire on Wednesday night

Wirral Council said they did not object to the move because firefighters had deemed the building structurally unsafe.

On social media, locals expressed their disappointment that Marbella Mambo was being torn down so quickly, even if they understood why.

Leighton Williams said: "I worked next door to this building for over 25 years.

Aerial shots of the former Birkenhead nightclub Marbella Mambo nightclub and Venue cinema following a fire on Wednesday night
Aerial shots of the former Birkenhead nightclub Marbella Mambo nightclub and Venue cinema following a fire on Wednesday night

"The outer brick walls where bowed and unsafe then. So I can understand the back of the building being pulled down."

Investigators are now combing the site, looking for clues.

It is not yet known how the blaze began.

This morning, Merseyside Fire and Rescue said they were still working to control hot spots in the building.

Around six fire engines could be seen parked around the building while a platform ladder was brought to the fire to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze.

A fire spokesperson said: “Due to the size of the fire (12m x 12m) its has been sectorised.

"The fire broke out in the roof space but it is not yet clear what has caused it.”

Residents clambered up on crash barriers on nearby roads to watch the former Marbello Mambo club burn.

Roads were closed as crews worked to bring the blaze under control with Conway Street shut from the roundabout at Argyll St to the Vue Cinema.