ARSONISTS are blamed for starting a £50,000 blaze which destroyed an accommodation block at Radcliffe's popular Giant's Seat Scout Camp.

At the height of the fire, which ripped through the 15m x 8m Oakum Hut, flames shot 40ft into the air and could be seen for miles around.

Ironically, Radcliffe's Scout district commissioner Mr Brian Rushton was on his way to visit the Ringley Road West camp site when he became aware of the blaze.

"On my way up there, I was met by fire engines," he said. "I visit the site every day to make sure nothing dramatic has happened."

Describing Tuesday (February 24) afternoon's fierce fire, which burned the building to the ground, Mr Rushton added: "It was an inferno and the flames were very high. The blaze could be seen right across the valley.

"The Oakum Hut was a single-storey timber building used essentially as a storm camp for people caught in inclement weather.

"It also served as a recreation centre and could cater for around 20 Cubs or Scouts. Primarily, it was an amenity block." The fire destroyed all fixtures and fittings inside and crews from Whitefield and Farnworth spent two hours at the scene.

The blaze happened just as Scout officials were revaluing camp site buildings for insurance purposes and 15 months after a facelift of the Oakum Hut.

Mr Rushton thinks the building was set ablaze in a fit of pique after the people responsible found nothing of value to steal when they broke into the other two units.

"Thankfully, camping isn't under way yet, but we will be attempting to generate enough funds from insurance, collections and so forth in an effort to refurbish the building," said the DC.

"We'll have to live with the financial loss. In this day and age, all our efforts go into maintaining Scouting property".

The hut had been on site for almost 25 years and was used by youngsters from Greater Manchester and further afield.

The blaze will not have any immediate impact on those who normally use Giant's Seat.

Scouts and Guides scheduled to visit the site are booked into the Martin Lodge, which was broken into on the afternoon of the fire.

Bury Police say they are treating the outbreak as arson and are investigating.

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