FIX this historic building up before there’s a real fire.

That’s the message from councillors after a blaze at Bournemouth’s Throop Mill.

Two drunk men set fire to twigs near the back door of the Grade II listed building on Thursday afternoon.

Fire crews from Ferndown and Springbourne were rushed to the scene.

The fire was swiftly put out without damage, but now Cllr Ron Whittaker, a long time campaigner for work on the restoration on the mill, is urging action.

He said: “Thankfully the fire was to the rear of the mill.

“But once again I’ve had to raise the state of the building with council officers.

“There are blocked guttering pipes and the rear section is in desperate need of a clear out because it is a fire hazard.”

He is urging owners Heygates to carry out repairs so the building can be reopened as a tourist attraction with a cafe.

The 19th century mill, on Throop Road, was closed in 1972.

Thieves targeted the building in April, ripping off part of its roof and stealing £200 worth of lead.

Cllr Whittaker added: “With my ward colleague Anne Rey we have tried and tried to get the mill taken over by a trust.

“Or perhaps the owners would allow the council to take at a peppercorn rent, allowing the private sector to bring forward ideas.

“But all we are told is ‘for £600,000, it is yours’.”

Cllr Rey said: “What a wonderful asset it would be – some of the income from the café could be put back of the building.”

Throop Mill owners Heygates, a Northampton based milling firm, said no one was available for comment.