A raging fire has destroyed much of a Grade II-listed building in Leek, Staffordshire, leaving the 165-year-old Big Mill severely damaged.
Six fire crews were called to the blaze on Friday evening after flames engulfed the six-storey structure.
Drone footage captured the inferno tearing through the mill, with the roof collapsing and part of the wall reduced to rubble.
It was said that by Saturday morning, smoke was still rising from the charred remains.
The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service urged drivers to avoid the area and advised nearby residents to keep doors and windows shut.
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Sadly, locals described the building as “completely burned out.”
The Big Mill, dating back to 1860, is regarded as one of the earliest large-scale silk industry mills in Leek.
Historic England sees the structure as an example of architect William Sugden’s mill design, which shaped the town’s industrial heritage.
The site has stood disused for several years, with plans previously submitted to convert it into 55 apartments.
Dame Karen Bradley, Conservative MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, said she was “so sad to see the terrible fire at the Big Mill,” calling the incident a tragic loss for the community.