YOUNGSTERS who set fire to a derelict mill have been warned of the possible grim consequences of their actions.

Firefighters and police have been called to the disused mill in Aqueduct Road, Blackburn, twice in the last week after children broke in and set fire to rubbish.

And firefighters fear that the incidents will increase with the advent of the Easter school holidays and could end in tragedy.

Leading firefighter Phil Emmett, of Blackburn fire station, said everything possible had been done to secure the property, but somehow the youngsters still managed to break in.

He added: "These children do not realise the danger they are in by breaking in to these places. Even if they are only setting fire to piles of rubbish, there is a lot of waste material lying around which could easily catch light and result in a major fire.

"One day one of these youngsters is going to get into serious trouble because they are not considering the risks of their actions." Coun Niki Penney, chairman of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, said: "I would urge that parents have a chat to their children at the beginning of the holidays to explain to them the dangers of going in to these places.

"Not only is there a risk of falling masonry, falling through floors and getting trapped, but there is the danger of fire."

Coun Maureen Bateson, whose Ewood ward includes the Aqueduct Road mill, said: "There is a problem with any derelict buildings, including houses and mills and I would like to emphasise the dangers of what seems like an adventure playground to children but is not."

There was a spate of incidents with youngsters breaking into disused mills in the Mill Hill area of Blackburn in December.