A RECYCLING centre has temporarily closed following an arson attack. 

Fire crews were called to the incident involving two large recycling containers at Burnley Recycling Centre at around 5.30am this morning.

The cause of the fire is being treated as 'deliberate' and an investigation has been launched. It is thought the police were also in attendance.

Following the closure of the site, Burnley residents will have to travel over eight miles to Altham recyling centre, on Whinney Hill Road, or travel 10 miles to Barnoldswick's recycling centre, on West Close Road.

The site, which is open from 8am to 5pm on Mondays to Sundays, was locked up and no-one was at the site when fire crews arrived, a fire spokesman said.

Officers have confirmed there is still one unit at the site because they are waiting for staff to arrive to fully assess the damage to the site.

A fire spokesman said: "There are still pockets of smoke and damage to two scrap metal containers on the site.

"We are treating the cause of the fire as deliberate and waiting for staff to arrive to access the CCTV. An investigation is still ongoing."

Lancashire County Council and Burnley Council have both confirmed the centre has been closed until further notice.

On Burnley Council's website, a spokesman said: "The household waste recycling centre in Balderstone Lane, Heasandford, Burnley, is currently temporarily closed due to a fire earlier this morning.

"The fire service has put out the blaze but is still on site."

On Lancashire County Council's website, a spokesman said: "Our Burnley Household Waste Recycling Centre is currently closed due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

Workers at the Balderstone Lane recycling centre have said they haven't been told when the centre will reopen. 

Site operator Darren Moorhouse said: "We have had smaller fires break out before at the centre but none as big as this.

"The containers were well abalze and will have to be scrapped.

"I don't know when we'll reopen. We will remain closed until the fire brigade are gone."

Burnley Council leader Mark Townsend said the incident was 'concerning' and sympathised with people who had been 'inconvenienced' by the closure. 

He said: "It's obviously concerning that people put their own lives at risk and other lives at risk by setting fire to anything but this also has knock on effects to inconvenience the public.

"I do hope there is a chance, if this has been started deliberately, that the perpetrators are brought to some justice because it's unacceptable to set fire to anything deliberately.

"Let's hope the centre is back up and running soon."