AN iconic listed building which was destroyed by a devastating fire almost a year ago might not be covered by an insurance policy, The Mail can exclusively reveal.

From the moment firefighters arrived on the scene at the House of Lords on that fateful night of January 11, it was immediately clear that the fire they faced would be a major incident.

Residents were evacuated and more than 60 firefighters from across Cumbria battled the blaze which reduced the building to a shell of its former state.

More than 11 months on from the fire, part of Abbey Road remains closed because of fears for the building's stability. Officials at Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council are obliged to allow the insurance company time to assess the claim and take action.

The building was insured by NIG, underwritten by UK Insurance, and a statement from the company reveals the cover is being disputed.

If the insurance company refuses to pay out on the claim the building's fate will be in the hands of the owner, Roger McKimm, who is in Australia. Legislation allows local authorities to take steps to make safe any structure using council cash if no action is taken by the owner.

A spokesperson for NIG told The Mail : "While we appreciate the public interest in restoring the building, following investigation into the fire, there are issues arising regarding policy cover and the matter is in the hands of legal advisors."

The fire investigation report by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service revealed a number of factors which could be of interest to the insurance company.

The investigation, by Station Manager Roger Exley, examined the seven possible causes of fires.

The only confirmed source of ignition within the room where the fire started was electrical wiring that could have short circuited. However, this does not explain why the fire spread so quickly and arson could not be discounted.

Police later revealed they had failed to find evidence of any criminal activity.

The investigation also found evidence of fuel being stored within the House of Lords, an insecure downstairs window, and prior removal of the ceilings and floors.

Petrol soaked into a foam material was also found on the ground floor and on questioning the occupiers this could not be accounted for.

The fire investigation report confirms there was no fire detection system in place in the building at the time of the fire.

The exact reason for the legal dispute over the House of Lords' insurance policy is not known.

The Mail has contacted the building's owner Roger McKimm.

TIMELINE

8.56pm WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11, 2017: A 999 call is made by staff at Bar Continental after a passer-by notices flames coming from an upstairs window at the House of Lords.

9.30pm: The annexe building suffers a "catastrophic collapse", forcing firefighters to flee for their lives.

JANUARY 12: Police join the fire investigation and launch an appeal for witnesses.

JANUARY 17: The founders of the Barrow R&B Club announce its demise following the loss of their venue at Bar Conti.

JANUARY 23: House of Lords' owner Roger McKimm speaks to The Mail from Australia about the fire.

JANUARY 24: Structural engineers visit the site to assess the building.

JANUARY 27: Scaffolding is used to shore up the front of the House of Lords to prevent collapse.

JANUARY 31: Abbey Road partly reopens to allow traffic to travel south towards the town centre.

FEBRUARY 20: Fire investigators and a fire dog are allowed inside the site to look for clues.

APRIL 4: The Mail reveals the fire investigation has identified petrol near to the source of the blaze in the upper floor of the building.

MAY 17: One lane of the northbound carriageway of Abbey Road finally reopens.

JUNE 21: Police confirm the criminal investigation has concluded and the cause of the fire is undeterminable.

JULY 30: Cumbria County Council release a copy of the fire investigation report to The Mail .

DECEMBER: NIG Insurance confirm a legal dispute is behind the lengthy delay in repairing or demolishing the building.