FIREFIGHTERS across East Lancashire had a busy weekend dealing with a succession of blazes, many of which are believed to have been started deliberately.

Blackburn Around a dozen deliberate grass fires tied up Blackburn Fire Service on Saturday afternoon.

Crews were called out to a series of incidents in various parts of the town, including the Audley and Queen's Park areas.

Yobs also started a rubbish fire in a back alleyway at the rear of Providence Street, Little Harwood, on Saturday.

Fire crews from Blackburn put out burning household waste at 1.48pm.

A spokesman criticised those responsible as both engines were busy from noon until 6pm.

Darwen A fire was started behind a club in Darwen on Saturday afternoon.

Members opening up the Highfield Working Men’s Club, Ratcliffe Street, at 12.20pm noticed the building was smokelogged.

A spokesman for Darwen fire station said it was believed a group of youths were responsible for the fire.

Newspaper had been shoved between cladding at the rear of the building and set alight.

The flames spread to felt and then wood on the outside of the premises causing a small amount of damage.

The spokesman said it was a ‘small fire which could have got a lot worse if gone unnoticed’.

Hyndburn Firefighters from Accrington had to tackle a number of grass fires on Saturday afternoon.

They were called to incidents in Corporation Street and Pinewood Drive, Accrington, as well as Allan Critchlow Way, Rishton.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a fire in a derelict factory in St James’ Road, Church.

The blaze was started in the empty building at on Saturday afternoon.

There was minimal structural damage in the blaze, which was started using rubbish.

The incident is being treated as ‘suspicious’.

Rossendale More than a dozen firefighters spent two hours tackling a blaze in a derelict building in Haslingden.

Two crews were called to the fire at the two-storey property at the rear of Bell Street, at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Initial reports suggested that people might be trapped in the building as a group of children were seen inside before the incident.

The premises were empty, but firefighters had to smash a lot of a suspended chipboard floor to get to the source.

Rubbish from inside the building had been collected under the floor and used as ignition.

Meanwhile, firefighters also put out a grass fire off Shaw Clough Road, Whitewell Bottom.