THE former High Court judge who presided over the inquiry into the 1985 Bradford fire, in which 56 people died, has said new claims around the cause of the blaze are "nonsense".

A new book claims the fire at Valley Parade was one of at least nine blazes at businesses owned by or associated with the club's then chairman Stafford Heginbotham, who died in 1995.

The official inquiry into the tragedy, led by Mr Justice Oliver Popplewell, concluded that the cause was an accident probably started by a spectator dropping a cigarette into the rubbish that had accumulated under an old timber stand.

Today, Sir Oliver said: "I'm sorry to spoil what is obviously a very good story but I'm afraid it's nonsense for a number of reasons."

The retired judge said the main flaw in the argument that the fire was arson was that the stand involved had no insurance value because it was due for demolition.

He said the fire was examined by experienced and thorough investigators who found nothing suspicious. And he said no question of arson was ever raised in civil legal proceedings.

Sir Oliver also rejected claims his inquiry was held too quickly, three weeks after the fire.

He said: "I can quite understand after having previous fires some suspicion being raised but, as far as I'm concerned, we conducted our inquiry perfectly properly and I have no reason believe it was other than an accident."

His views were backed up by Bradford chairman Mark Lawn, who said he found it "hard to believe" that the fire was started deliberately.

Mr Lawn said he believed the findings of the official inquiry.

He added: "I find it hard to believe the fire was started on purpose.

"I feel for the person who has written this book as he has lost his whole family in the fire, but I'm not sure you can start blaming someone who is dead without having proof."

But Sir Oliver did say police should look at eight other fires allegedly connected to the then club chairman to "see if there was anything sinister".

He added: "I don't think it's going to affect what we decided but I think it is important from a public point of view that the police look at the other fires and see if there was anything sinister. It is a remarkable number.

"I think it's important to satisfy people's minds that the other fires are unconnected."

The new claims are contained in the book Fifty-Six - The Story Of The Bradford Fire, by Martin Fletcher, who was 12 at the time and escaped from the blaze but lost three generations of his family including his father and brother.

The book, published today and being serialised in a national newspaper, does not make any direct allegations but Mr Fletcher says Heginbotham's history with fires, which he claims resulted in payouts totalling around £27 million in today's terms, warranted further investigation.

"Could any man really be as unlucky as Heginbotham had been?" he asks.

Mr Fletcher's 11-year-old brother was the fire's youngest victim while his father John, 34, uncle Peter, 32, and grandfather Eddie, 63, also died.

The disaster occurred at a time, according to Fletcher's evidence, when the businessman was in desperate financial trouble - and two days after he discovered it would cost £2 million to bring the ground up to safety standards required by Bradford's promotion from the old Third Division.

Mr Fletcher is the only survivor to publicly challenge the official inquiry, describing it as inadequate and saying it took place far too close to the event.

A minute's silence is due to be held at every Premier League and Football League match on Saturday April 25 to mark the forthcoming 30th anniversary.

Yesterday former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the new allegations did not justify a new inquiry into the disaster.

Mr Sutcliffe, former MP for Bradford South and deputy leader of Bradford City Council at the time of the tragedy, said he knew Mr Heginbotham "flew by the seat of his pants" in terms of the finances of the club, but remains convinced by the conclusion of the inquiry.

West Yorkshire Police said the force would consider any new evidence about the fire.

Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "The jury at the inquest in 1985 delivered a verdict of misadventure.

"However should any evidence come to light which was not available to Her Majesty's Coroner at the original inquest, then we will consider its significance and take appropriate action."