This is why police, fire engines and an ambulance rushed to the Royal Garrison pub in Preston last night

At 8.41pm, fire crews were called to the derelict pub were they found a heap of rubbish on fire on the third floor of the smoke-filled building.

Two fire engines and the aerial ladder platform attended and crews extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, a hose reel and a ventilation unit.

Firefighters were in attendance for around one hour and twenty minutes and crews found evidence that the fire had been started deliberately.

The fire service called police to the scene at around 9pm, with the police dog unit also in attendance.

Officers were briefed by the fire service on the likely cause of the fire before arresting two suspects later that evening.

Lancashire Police has now confirmed that two boys, aged 13 and 16, have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

The pair remain in custody this morning (Wednesday, November 18).

A fire service spokesman said: "Firefighters attended a fire at a derelict building on Tom Finney Way, Preston.

"Two fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended and found the fire on the third floor of the building.

"Crews extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, a hose reel and a ventilation unit.

"Firefighters were in attendance around one hour and twenty minutes.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway."

North West Ambulance Service also attended the incident but no injuries were reported.

"Looks like there was an ambulance at the scene, but we’ve not taken anyone to hospital," confiemed an NWAS spokesman.

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