A DERELICT Brierfield mill has been left "very unstable" after an arson attack, firefighters said.

Firefighters were called to the former Trojan Products, Lob Lane Mill, off Clitheroe Road, just before 11.30am on Saturday.

A blaze was started in one of the mill's upstairs rooms which spread quickly.

The fire was attended by five crews who spent four hours at the scene. Clitheroe Road was closed throughout that time.

The mill, which is also known as Veevers Mill, has been subject to regular arson and vandalism attacks since it closed in 2001.

The site will now be sealed off in an attempt to stop children gaining access.

Watch Manager Neil Ashworth, of Burnley fire station, said: "Especially now, the building's very unstable and if anyone goes anywhere near, it is likely that wood and masonry will be dropping from the roof for a long time.

"It was already a no-go area, but it is even more so now.

"We had lots of smaller fires there previously and it was only a matter of time before we had one like this."

He said the latest fire was likely to have been started by children, as there was a history of juvenile arson there.

The weaving mill was built in the late 1800s. Trojan Products, the last firm to use the building, moved out to new premises in Clayton-le-Moors in 2001.

In October, vandals smashed about half of the mill's 270 windows. Under the Elevate housing market renewal scheme in Brierfield canal corridor area, the mill is to be converted into apartments.

Coun Naseem Shabnam, who represents Brierfield, said the fire's effect on the renovation plans would be investigated in the next few days.

She said: "It's something that has been waiting to happen and myself and Councillor Frank Wren have raised this many times.

"The building has been derelict for a long time and something needs to be done."