Campaigners battling to save historic Newall Green Farm from the bulldozer are still hopeful despite a devastating fire at the weekend. 

It is feared the historic building in Wythenshawe may have to be demolished following the fire on Saturday.

But Andrew Milne a spokesman for the new owners who recently acquired the site  says he is optimistic his plans to restore the site remain on course.

And frustrated members of the Save Newall Green Farm group are rallying to organise an urgent meeting with the owner to discuss the future and how security on the site can be improved.

Local residents have already registered interest in a Q and A session on the group’s Facebook page.

Structural engineers from the City Council’s building control department are currently assessing whether the building can be saved.

Andrew Milne said last night: “Building control believed last night the farm can be saved and that remains the intention. I remain hopeful we can save this important historical building.”

Firefighters were called to the derelict farm on Saturday to fight the blaze,  believed to have been started when a large group of local youths were in the building.

It was reported that up to 15 children, one as young as six were in the building when it caught fire.

Newall Green Farm was built in the sixteenth century and fell into disrepair when its last occupants died.

It was sold to property  developers who wanted to build luxury flats. But they abandoned the scheme when planning permission was refused.

And just last week, Andrew Milne announced the purchase of the site and plans to start the process of developing the farm for the benefit of the local learning disabled community.