ARSONISTS broke into a pub undergoing renovation and started a fire.

It is thought the blaze was started deliberately on the first floor of the Lodge Bank Tavern in Bridgeman Street, Great Lever after vandals broke in through the back of the pub.

Firefighters were called just before 9.30am yesterday.

Watch manager Simon Wood said: “It was a small fire which damaged soft furnishings and caused smoke log to the building, but fortunately the fire was spotted quickly before it had spread to the rest of the pub.”