Train services to Burnley disrupted after blaze

2:48pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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TRAIN services through Burnley were hit after yobs set fire to around 100 tyres beneath a railway bridge.

Firefighters from Burnley and Pendle attended the scene, in Cog Lane, at around 9.10pm last night.

They managed to bring the fire under control within half an hour but asked rail bosses to stop trains overhead until the blaze was fully extinguished.

A Network Rail spokesman said three trains had been cancelled following the fire while another four were delayed.

He added that the action was taken as a “precaution” and services had returned to normal by this morning.

Insp Martin Melvin, from Burnley police, said: “We are paying a lot of attention to the Gannow area at the moment, particularly in the evenings and throughout the night.

“We are looking in particular at the anti-social behaviour which can lead to events such as these.”

Coun Charlie Briggs, executive member for community safety and whose ward covers the area, said: “I know some kids have been congregating in that area before and having drinking sessions.

“We are working closely with police in the Gannow ward and hopefully we can get rid of the anti-social behaviour.”

He said he hoped community workers, councillors and police would soon be able to announce a meeting for residents in the area who experience any anti-social behaviour.

The Cog Lane bridge lies between Burnley’s Rose Grove and Manchester Road stations, and is part of the popular Blackpool South to Colne line.

Last week 40 tyres were set on fire beneath the railway bridge.

This prompted Trinity Action Group to ask residents to help to catch the vandals.