FIREFIGHTERS prevented a fire from engulfing a mill in Accrington town centre and causing thousands pounds worth of damage.

Arsonists broke in to the empty, former Accrington Timber and Building Supplies premises in Ormerod Street and started fires yesterday evening. Flames broke through the roof and melted plastic windows in the adjacent three-storey Scaitcliffe Mill which houses trophy manufacturing firm SDL Trophies and a snooker hall.

Three crews fought the fire at the disused warehouse - due to be demolished shortly to make way for a proposed new civic headquarters - after the alarm was raised by members in the snooker club at 7.20pm.

Station officer Les Shaw said: "The flames came very close to the mill and, if we had not stopped them spreading, there could have been thousands of pound worth of damage.

"We believe the fire was deliberately ignited as we found a number of ignition points around the building.

"It appears the building had been broken into through the roof."

The building is still owned by Accrington Timber and Building Supplies which moved to new premises in Ellison Street, Accrington, last December.

It had been used by the builders merchants for 17 years.

Managing director George Flegg said: "It is due to be handed over to the council next week so the new headquarters can be built.

"The building is going to be demolished so it won't be worth paying out for repairs. I hope the council will still accept the building."

damage to the next door mill was only slight as some smoke entered the building when the windows melted. There was also heat damage to the outside wall.

SDL Trophies managing director Geoff Lord said: "I would like to thank the firefighters and the people in the snooker club."

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