FIREFIGHTERS warned arsonists that they may struggle to rescue them if they become trapped in a former Accrington nightclub.

The warning comes after a second suspected deliberate fire at the former Churchills nightclub and Accrington Conservative Club building in Cannon Street in the space of three months.

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The latest incident, at 8.21pm on Sunday, saw firefighters attempting to access a fire on the fourth four withdrawn from the ground floor for their own safety.

The upper level was accessed directly via a ladder. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet to extinguish the flames. Nobody was injured in the incident. But Accrington Fire Station watch manager Steven Yeoman said next time the arsonists might not be so lucky.

Mr Yeoman said: “Two members of my team wearing breathing apparatus went in under strict instructions that if there were clear signs that the structure of the building posed a serious risk to their safety then they should return immediately.

“The fact my crew came out shows it was dangerous.

“The message to people thinking of going in there is if they fall through one of the floors it will be difficult to rescue them because of the structural issues inside the property. You would be putting my officers’ lives at risk as well as your own.”

Mr Yeoman said the fire service would be speaking to Hyndburn Borough Council regarding the security of the property.

Hyndburn councillor June Harrison (Barnfield) said: “It is a sad state of affairs. We are seeing people across Hyndburn going into buildings and causing a nuisance.

“It is terrible that people are coming along and destroying everything.”

Fellow ward councillor Tony Dobson said: “This property is being damaged day in, day out by young hooligans.

“I have been encouraging the controlling group at the council to be the driving force in finding a future for this building.”

County councillor Bernard Dawson (Accrington South) said: “The borough council has a duty and responsibility to use its enforcement powers to make the building safe.”

Samuel Magee, of the Friends of Accrington Conservative Club, is keen to see something done with the building, which suffered damage to the second floor when a deliberate fire was started in August.

The owner of the site was unavailable for comment.