FOUR young arsonists are being hunted by police after a kitchen manufacturers was deliberately set on fire in Burnley.

A fire was started at kitchen appliance firm Burco Dean Appliances in Langham Street after children believed to be just 12 years old had broken in and made a den on the top floor.

Six appliances and a mobile fire station were set up in the street at 3.30pm on Saturday after reports came in of the fire.

Two children were reported to be in the building after two other children raised the alarm, saying that they had been playing in the building with them at the time the blaze started.

The fire was said to be confined to the second floor of the large two storey building which is 100m by 50m.

Fire crews managed to put out the blaze in ten minutes and then searched the building for the two missing children, but no children were found.

Steve Kennedy, Station Manager for Chorley Fire Brigade attended the fire, he said:"I received a call at 3.45pm reporting a fire at Burco Dean Appliances with two children missing, believed to be in the building.

"The fire was confined to the top floor of the building and the sprinklers which came on automatically had controlled most of the blaze.

"The fire crews put out the fire within ten minutes and then searched the building from top to bottom using breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras but the children who are believed to be around 12 years old, were not in there.

"Two fire engines came from Burnley, two from Nelson and two came from Hyndburn and the mobile fire station came from Blackburn.

"Not much damage was done to the building or the contents inside.

"We believe the children escaped while the blaze was ongoing and that the fire was deliberate.

"An investigation is currently taking place.

Sgt Jonathan Lobb of Burnley police said:"We are waiting for the formal report at the moment but we are treating it as a crime.

"A couple of people are helping us with our inquiries, and we are looking to arrest some children in relation to the fire."