YOUNG arsonists who destroyed a mill and caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage were today urged: "Stop, before somebody gets killed."

Haslingden was rocked by a series of explosions as Sykeside Mill, Manchester Road, was set alight yesterday, just days before it was due to be sold.

The fire is the latest in a series of blazes in the area, thought to have been started by youngsters and today a local councillor pleaded with the arsonists to stop.

Police were today questioning a group of youths seen in the area at the time of the fire as it was revealed that the four-storey mill, a Grade II listed building, will have to be demolished. Five crews from across East Lancashire tackled the blaze after being alerted shortly after 11.15am when the bang of exploding gas cylinders rocked the air.

Officers did not go into the building for fear of it collapsing. There was also concern that the 100 foot mill tower -- held up by the main mill building -- could fall down.

The building has been empty since RS Wills Textiles closed down two years ago and is up for sale. It is understood that Leeds estate agents Smith and Hodkinson had just received an offer for the building. Fire officers said that the mill was known to police as a place where juveniles gathered and that they are believed to be responsible for the blaze.

Rossendale councillor Joyce Thorne, 49, whose Greenfield ward includes the mill, said she was worried about people's safety.

She added: "We have a young element who appear to be going around doing this.

"A while ago the library was set on fire causing extensive damage, and last week Hazelwood nursing home in Bury Road was broken into and has had two fires in the last six months.

"The nursing home is a beautiful old property but nobody is going to want to buy it and we are left with a wreck.

"That will happen to the mill."

"It is getting out of hand and I am getting anxious about it.

"It is catching them -- a group of people aged about of 13 or 14 who are up to no good.

"They hang around and do not seem to be interested in doing anything. Years ago they used to play football and get rid of there energy, now they put them energy into vandalism.

"The police are aware and we have set up a community group to get the youngsters interested in other things. Give us a few months and we'll have got things moving."

Station officer Peter Ashworth said: "The mill has been destroyed. They will have to be fence it off and it's a demolition job.

"There's hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage."

Residents said the fire looked serious.

Shelley Wright, of Grane Road, Haslingden, said: "There was a massive bang. You could see the smoke for miles and it was fairly spectacular."