FIRE chiefs have branded an Accrington mosque a 'serious fire risk' after a man was found sleeping in the building during an arson attack.

The Faizane Madina Mosque was targeted in an arson spree across the Spring Hill area on Wednesday last week.

Firefighters who attended the incident in Richmond Road said a man, believed to be an Imam from Pakistan, was found sleeping on the premises.

During an inspection Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety Officers discovered that a visiting Imam who escaped the blaze had been using the loftspace as a bedroom.

And now fire chiefs have placed a restriction order on the place of worship banning it from being used as sleeping accommodation.

Chris Caton, fire safety officer, said: "On further investigation a bedroom was found in the roofspace of the mosque accessed by an open staircase from the kitchen.

"Also the fire alarm in the premises was not adequate for sleeping accommodation.

"As a result, a restriction notice was served on the mosque which means the room in the roofspace cannot be used for sleeping accommodation.

"If the fire had penetrated the kitchen, we could have been looking at a fire fatality as the only way out of the bedroom was through the kitchen.

"There was a small window in the loftspace which is not adequate."

Fire officers, who believe the problem could be widespread at other mosques, have arranged a meeting with the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

Mr Caton said: "This was a very dangerous situation and this man could have been killed as he had no means of escape.

"We want to educate people that if buildings are being used for sleeping then people have to be able to get out safely if a fire breaks."

Police and fire crews are still investigating the blaze which spread from a nearby shed containing three gas cylinders.

Committee members at the mosque were not available for comment.