Arson investigation after fire at former children's home in Chorley

An arson investigation has been launched in Chorleyafter a former children's home was deliberately set on fire.

Three fire engines were called out to the fire at the derelict building on Highfield Road North at around 8.15pm on September 5 amid initial concerns that a person was trapped in building.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus quickly established that nobody was inside the single-storey building.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "We were called out to a disused children's home.

"It seems that although the building was boarded up, somebody broke into the building and started a fire.

"The fire was confined to one room, but there were concerns that children may have still been in the building so we conducted a search.

"Thankfully nobody was found.

"Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used a hosereel jet to extinguish the fire."

Police are now appealing for anyone with information that may aid their investigation to contact them.

A police spokesman said: "We were notified by the fire service of a probable arson incident in Chorley.

"Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with us on 101 quoting reference SC1706815."

Nobody was injured during the incident.