A FAMILY-run sandwich shop has been forced to close after teenage vandals smashed their way in and started a blaze.

When firefighters arrived at Farny’s Sarnies, in Burnley Road, Padiham, they found the shop ‘well alight’.


Shop bosses said the arsonists kicked a hole in wooden panelling, near the front door, before shoving lighted paper through the gap.


Flames spread along the front and smoke spread through the three-storey building before firefighters brought the incident under control.


Matt Farnworth, who has run the shop for four years with family, said: “It has caused some considerable structural damage and it doesn’t look like we’ll be opening for the foreseeable future.


“I was called by my brother, Phil, who told me the shop was on fire and I just couldn’t believe it. 


“You just never think you’ll be targeted by arsonists like this.


“Now all we can do is wait for the fire inspector’s report and see what our landlord wants to do next. 


“I’ve already had one of our regular customers ringing up, looking to place her order as usual, and there was nothing we could do about it.”


Mr Farnworth said: “Kids are responsible by all accounts.”
One passer-by, in his 70s, said: “This kind of thing never used to happen in Padiham when everyone knew each other. If someone had seen kids doing something like this then, they would step in.”


Fire crews were called to the shop, situated on a main road, just before 7.40pm on Wednesday.


Fire service crew manager Lee Garnett said: “On arrival flames were seen around the bay window.


“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels and thermal imaging cameras.”


A ventilation unit was then used to remove smoke, which had spread over all the three floors.


Police and electricity workers were also drafted in to ensure the building, near the junction with Mill Lane, and surroundings were safe.


“The fire is under investigation,” added Mr Garnett.


A police spokesman said the cause of the fire was believed to be suspicious.


He said: “It appears the offenders have approached the front door, damaged wooden panelling underneath the shutters, before lighted paper was inserted, causing damage to the front of the shop.”


Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious at the front of the shop, between 7.30pm and 7.40pm on Wednesday, should call police on 101, quoting reference number EF1704923.