Saltaire's historic Boathouse pub, which was wrecked by fire, was about to be sold to start a new era, it can be revealed.

But the fierce blaze that wiped out most of the riverside inn, that dates back to 1870 and was originally built by mill magnate Sir Titus Salt as a boathouse for his workers' leisure, now leaves its future in doubt.

Manager Michael Halliday, 40, who lived there, said the inn, which had once been a popular focal point of the community, had now been lost.

"I can't see anyone wanting to buy it now. There had been someone who was interested but they won't want to take in on now as a business, not in this state," he said.

He added: "Part of the roof's gone, timbers are charred, walls are damaged, it's a mess. There's nothing much left.

"We'll have to wait and see what the police decide and what the loss adjusters and insurance people have to say."

Mr Halliday's boss Christine Bannon was on holiday in Spain when he rang to break the news. She will be flying home next week.

"I told her I had bad news and she said What now?' She's distraught but can't get a flight back until next week."

The fire broke out at about 1am yesterday. At first Shipley firefighters received a report that bushes by the pub were on fire.

Fire station commander Martin Day said: "When the crews got here they heard lots of loud popping and cracking and quickly realised it was the building not the bushes on fire. Flames were coming through the roof, it was fierce."

Because the electricity supply was still on, fire crews had to call in a power supplier to cut it off before they could go in with breathing apparatus and water jets, a Bingley crew also had to be called for back-up.

Yesterday scenes of crimes police officers joined fire investigators to sift through the pub's charred remains to look for clues.

It is believed to have started in a store room next to the living area of the pub - no one was in at the time.

Mr Day said: "We can't rule anything out yet. Investigations continue."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths @telegraphandargus.co.uk