BURGLARS have targeted a fire station for a second time in the space of a few months while crews were out attending a blaze. 

The offenders struck at around 2.15am today as they forced their way into Nelson fire station through a ground floor window and ransacked a number of rooms. 

Fire crews had been out attending to a car fire on Carr Road, Nelson at around 1.20am. 

Firefighters returned to the Bradley Road station to find a Samsung Galaxy, wallets and a petty cash tin containing a small amount of money were taken.

The offenders also caused damage to a door as they tried to get into another room and a back yard gate. 

No arrests have been made following the break-in.

Richard Edney, a spokesman for the fire service, described the perpetrators as ‘outrageous’.

He said: “It is outrageous that people can break into a fire station whilst firefighters are out trying to make people safer.

“This isn’t the first time a break-in at the station has happened.

“I can’t believe that anyone would think this is acceptable.”

“It’s just stupid.”

Shaun Walton, group manager at the fire service, said he was ‘very concerned and saddened’ by the incident. 

It comes after offenders also broke into the fire station in the early hours of June 22, stealing items including wallets and watches.

The offenders also caused a lot of damage after forcing entry through internal doors and ransacking most of the rooms in the station.

At the time, PS Kathryn Mather of Lancashire Police, described the incident as ‘ a ‘disgraceful crime’.

Enquires into the latest incident are ongoing and police have launched an appeal for witnesses.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting crime number EG 1810163.