A STREET food caterer has suffered its second fire in as many weeks — with police treating the incident as an arson attack.

Love Is Churros on Peel Street, Clitheroe, was hit by a fire at 9.45pm on Tuesday evening, close to some gas cannisters.

Owner of the business, Ruth Whewell said her and husband, Matt, are upset at having to clean up the building yet again.

Ruth said: “I just can’t believe it.

“We are upset that we are having to deal with this again.

“We are upset for the local residents. There are so many houses round there and we are hoping that they are okay.

“We are a local business so the people have been really kind to us. The residents sent us videos and photos saying that we had a fire and we got there as quickly as we could.”

The police said a small container was set alight which caused a considerable amount of damage.

They are now looking into the incident as a joint police and fire investigation as officers believe the shop may have been hit by an arson attack.

PCSO Mick Kearns-Turner said: “Thanks to our fire service for attending quickly, the damage could have been considerably worse.

“We are making enquiries but we would like to trace the owner of a silver vehicle that was seen parked up shortly before the fire started and also a group of youths seen in the area.”

Four fire engines were called to the scene and it took them until midnight to put out the blaze.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “Four fire engines from Clitheroe, Great Harwood and Hyndburn were called to a commercial fire on Peel Street, Clitheroe. Firefighters used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel to extinguish the fire.

“There were no injuries reported and a joint police and fire investigation is now under way.”

The previous fire, which was on July 13, saw pallet benches in the car park set alight, however this incident only took fire crews five minutes to get under control.

Police are asking that anyone with information should email 7234@lancashire.police.uk