Britannia Hotels have said they WILL sign an agreement securing the future of London Road fire station - just hours before a council deadline was due to expire.

Manchester town hall had given the chain until the end of today to sign a binding contract ensuring the listed landmark would finally be redeveloped within a set timescale.

After years of battling the firm, council bosses had warned last month they would otherwise pursue a compulsory purchase order.

At the eleventh hour, Britannia have now responded, declaring themselves ‘happy’ to enter into a written agreement ‘with the council’s co-operation’.

Several campaigners have already taken to Twitter calling the letter ‘disgusting’ and ‘last minute stalling’.

Last week the M.E.N. revealed the fire station’s shocking state of disrepair following decades of neglect.

The firm has said on many occasions that it would implement its planning permission for a hotel on the site - but according to the town hall ‘no progress’ has been made.

In its response to the council’s latest ultimatum, Britannia’s financial director Robert Ferrari said: “We would like to work in partnership with Manchester council on the development of the fire station and understand that a development agreement to be jointly agreed is being proposed.

“To that end we are happy to enter into a development agreement with the council’s co-operation.

“Can I suggest that you propose a range of items that you would like to see included in the development agreement and we can hopefully work together.”

The letter is likely to be met with caution by council bosses who have spent years trying to get Britannia to act.

Their latest demand - sent to Britannia on October 6 - was aimed at finally putting an end to the battle, which has already seen one CPO attempt fail.

Britannia bought London Road in 1986. It was placed on English Heritage’s ‘at risk’ register in 1997. But despite mounting pressure from the council, campaigners and conservationists, Britannia has never followed through on its planning permission for the Edwardian building.