AN ABANDONED building plagued by vandals has been targeted by arsonists.

Firefighters were called to the former Mill Hill Independent Living Centre in Blackburn after residents spotted children armed with pieces of wood breaking into the property.

Shortly after 7.50pm on Monday crews attended the Watson Street site – which has been earmarked for demolition – after large amounts of black smoke was seen bellowing from the building.

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Initial reports feared the youngsters were still inside the building, firefighters said.

However, after a short search crews realised no one was trapped.

Alex Fletcher, watch manager at Blackburn fire station, said he was sure the blaze was started deliberately.

He said: “The fire had originally started in one of the rooms and head spread out into the corridors.

“We presumed the children were still inside the building but after the fire was extinguished we made a thorough search and the building was confirmed clear.”

Fire crews spent two-and-a-half hours fighting the flames.

Damian Talbot, councillor for Mill Hill, said he was ‘disappointed’ it had been targeted again.

He said: “Residents have had concerns about the property for sometime now as this isn’t the first time the building has been entered.

“The council is trying to provide as many positive activities for children as possible to keep them off the streets, but with the cuts over the past years this has been difficult.”

The former care building is set to be demolished and will be replaced by 23 one to three storey houses built by Great Places Housing Group.

Mr Talbot said: “The building is currently in its in-between stage and once the new accommodation is built it will remove any problems with the site.

Anyone with information is urged to call 101.