A TWO-storey building was gutted in a suspected arson attack in Padiham today.

The alarm was raised shortly before 2.45am when a passer-by called at Padiham police station to report the fire at the disused builders' merchants in Station Road, behind Bertwistle's Funeral Services.

High winds fanned the flames into a fierce blaze, and residents were woken because sparks were blowing on to the roofs of houses across the river.

Fire crews from Burnley were reinforced by crews from Accrington.

Burnley Station Officer Steve Cope said: "The roof was well alight and we did not risk sending anyone in to the main building because of the dangerous conditions caused by the high winds.

"We got the people up at the houses across the back so that we could check there were no problems.''

The cause of the fire, which gutted the building, is under investigation.

Officer Cope added: "The services to the building were off and no-one had been in recently.

"We are looking at it possibly being started deliberately and both police and fire service are investigating.''

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