FIREFIGHTERS saved the former Palladium cinema in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, after a suspected arson attack threatened to destroy the building.

A blaze broke out in the building - which is currently for sale - at 5.15pm yesterday and the fire spread rapidly through the furniture and foam upholstery stacked up in the main hall.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus spent an hour inside the building, which became filled with thick black smoke before the blaze was extinguished.

They managed to prevent the fire spreading from the furniture into the structure of the building.

The cinema, which is also a former bingo hall, was left smoke damaged.

Fire and police officers were due at the scene today to investigate the cause of the blaze, which started on the ground floor in the main hall.