A FIRE-damaged building which has blighted Hereford's High Town for five years could remain untouched for a "significant period of time", a leading councillor has warned.

The former Card Factory building has been labelled an eyesore having stood undeveloped since the huge blaze which took hold of the property in October 2010.

Hopes of a restoration were dashed earlier this year when the owners of the site, Omaha Properties Ltd, went into administration.

And this morning, the cabinet member for infrastructure, Cllr Philip Price, told full council it may be some time before there is a positive solution, despite the council being notified of some interest from a charity.

"The company that owns it has gone into administration," he said.

"We have had a an interested party looking into it. We will work with any developer wishing to bring it back to life, but it's going to take time.

"We can debate it as much as you like, but the council is not a developer.

"It's difficult but don't be surprised if there's no solution to the building for a significant period of time."

Cllr Price was responding to an update request from former Hereford mayor, Cllr Len Tawn.

Last year, the Lib Dem's parliamentary candidate for Hereford and south Herefordshire, labelled the building an "eyesore".

The two brands affected by the fire, Card Factory and River island, are now trading from elsewhere in the city.

In recent months the site has at least shown signs of looking more attractive after permission was granted for artist Maxine Williams to paint a mural on boards surrounding the building.

The work depicts county soldiers who fought during the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War.

It shows The Herefordshire Regiment landing in August 1915 at Suvla Bay ahead of a bloody baptism of fire which claimed 70 lives while almost 1,000 were evacuated through wounds or sickness.

The mural, which includes the names of those who died, was officially unveiled last month by the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Lady Darnley.