WYCOMBE Summit could be set for a white Christmas, despite a raging fire wreaking destruction there just four weeks ago.

The ski centre in Abbey Barn Lane had its chalet razed to the ground last month in a fire which cancelled all its Christmas bookings and left staff facing uncertain futures.

But it could be set for a return after bosses revealed they were going to press ahead with plans to bring an indoor real-snow centre to High Wycombe.

SD Leisure Ltd, which own the site, has always wanted to bring a real-snow facility to the town and give the public an icy experience.

Although the fire has disrupted plans, bosses say it means the process must be speeded up with an application set for spring next year.

Martin Smith, managing director of SD Leisure Ltd, said: "We acquired the Summit around October 2003 and our acquisition was principally to be able to explore the opportunity of creating an indoor snow centre."

Mr Smith said the application had been coming along well before the fire and they had been quite relaxed over a submission date.

But he said the devastation meant plans needed to be reviewed sooner because they now have no facility at all to trade in.

He said: "We now have to move at a pace. That is born out of necessity because we have no facility."

SD Leisure Ltd, which is part of Snowdome Holdings, also owns the Tamworth Snowdome in Staffordshire and believes the snow-vision would benefit High Wycombe.

Mr Smith said they would plan to keep the current slope and simply make the centre an indoor facility. This would look to accommodate skiers, snowboarders and tobogganing.

However, he urged caution because the plans needed to be reshaped following the fire to make allowances for the changes to the site.

The future of around 70 staff and the company's insurance claim are still awaiting clarification, although Mr Smith said the company was currently honouring all regular staff payments.

He added: "The way forward is snow, absolutely.

"As far as skiing and boarding is concerned it is the real thing you can't substitute that, and it also provides massive leisure alternatives."