Skatepark set alight

11:21am Tuesday 16th October 2007

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A BLAZE tore through a disused skatepark after arsonists set fire to the building.

Firefighters spent nearly 10 hours tackling the blaze at Bones Skatepark, Gilnow Lane, Deane, after being alerted to the fire at midnight on Sunday.

Two large stunt ramps were destroyed at the former indoor skate centre, which closed amid mounting debts late last year. The fire also caused an asbestos scare.

A local businessman said the incident had been "waiting to happen" and claimed gangs of youths who plague the area had broken into the building several times over the past month.

It is understood youths broke in through a side door before setting the building alight.

Two appliances from Bolton Central fire station and crews from Leigh and Wigan tackled the fire which was brought under control at 9.30am yesterday.

Crew commander at Bolton Central, Ady Taylor, said: "The fire at the skatepark was intense.

"We were lucky that we were alerted quite quickly and managed to stop the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. About a quarter of the building was damaged.

"We also had to take special precautions because of the asbestos sheeting roof and had to call specialist officers in.

"We are treating this as an arson attack."

Businessman Mike Sterling, of neighbouring M&S Fitted Bedrooms, said his workers had been forced to weld shut the doors of the skatepark after a number of break-ins.

He said: "Over the past three weeks, a gang of about 20, aged 12 to 20, have been coming down here and breaking into the building to use the ramps because they say the new skatepark is no good.

"When you tackle them. they throw bricks at the building and it is quite intimidating for all of us who work here.

"It was only a matter of time before something like this happened."