EMERGENCY structural work will be carried out within the next few weeks at an historic mill which was gutted by fire two months ago.

Residents living near Bath Street Mill, in Darley Abbey, have raised concerns that no work has been carried out at the site since the massive blaze two months ago.

But Derby City Council has given assurances that it is working with the building's owner, Harper and Homes, to prevent the 150-year-old mill from crumbling. Engineers from both organisations have visited the site to carry out structural surveys and emergency work is due to start within weeks.

A council spokeswoman said: "The owner of the mill was in touch with us straightaway and we have been working with them to make sure the site was safe to the public.

"Our engineers and the developer's structural engineers have met on the site and have agreed to further emergency works which will make the site more safe.

"The council has given permission to those works, which will take place over the next few weeks and will move the situation forward."

She added that once work had been completed, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service would be able to enter the building to carry out an investigation into the cause of the blaze, which happened on June 16.

The fire service is treating the blaze as suspicious but cannot confirm arsonists are to blame until officers can get inside.

The mill, which stands on the banks of the River Derwent, is part of Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The mill was sold to Harper and Homes in 2007 and the property developer submitted plans to build 92 apartments on the site.

The plans were approved by Derby City Council last year but development had not started before the blaze ripped through the building. Harper and Homes' address on the planning application is in West Bridgford but the premises at that location appear to have been demolished.

Steven Parnaby, who lives in North Street, close to the mill, said he was pleased to hear developments at the site were being made.

He said: "I saw the fire happen and I remember thinking back then, I hope it isn't just left in this state where it is just an empty shell. It is part of the city's heritage and needs to be treated with respect."

Jason Smith, of Bath Street, said: "It's quite a clear danger inside and around it and even though it has been completely fenced off, people will still be able to trespass."

A spokesman for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was not yet known if its investigation would be hampered by the mill being open to rain.