More than 30 firefighters were involved in a three-hour battle to control the blaze which surged through the building and brought down the roof.

Investigators are continuing to look into the cause, but believe it may have been deliberate.

Onlookers have told how they feared children could have been inside the Ferry Road building, which has stood empty for a number of years, and was thought to have been used by youngsters as a meeting place.

An ambulance was called to the scene as a precaution, but no-one was taken to hospital.

Parish councillor Sue Cross said: "I was in Lynn when I got the call and could see the flames from there.

"Someone said kids used to play in it and my first reaction was 'I hope no kids are trapped in it' because it was an horrendous fire."

The blaze, on Tuesday, was first spotted at around 5.50pm and not officially logged as under control until 9.20pm.

Six fire crews from Lynn, Sandringham and Terrington St Clement ended up involved in the operation, bringing in an aerial platform to allow them to fight the flames from above.

The social club, which once had hundreds of members, was open for 25 years until 2004, when Foster Refrigerator announced it was to close.

The fire came five days after a village meeting was held by planning consultants acting on behalf of new owners Isle of Man-based developer Elm Park Holdings, to discuss its possible future use.

West Norfolk Council inspectors have been assessing the damage and a spokesman said initial assessments were that demolition would have to be considered.

Coronation Road resident Al Ditheridge (37), whose home overlooks the building, was told about the fire by his wife Jo when he arrived home.

Mr Ditheridge, a project coordinator at Lynn's College of West Anglia, said: "It went up like a tinder box. We can just see the big ruin now."

Mr Ditheridge caught some photos and a video clip on camera as the fire took hold, as did fellow Clenchwarton resident Kevin Elfleet (48), of Hall Road. They have both submitted pictures of the incident.

Video footage of the fire has been uploaded to video website You Tube. To view it click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEyLNq1kS9U

There is more video footage on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_yJSs8GpJU