A Horwich engineering works was badly damaged last night in the fourth arson attack in six months.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused when a workshop was broken into and set ablaze at Arcon Engineering, off Chorley Old Road, just before midnight.

The inferno quickly spread into the loft and set fire to stacks of hay still stored in the converted barn.

Twenty firemen, who spent four hours fighting the blaze, feared a disaster because five drums containing unknown chemicals were in the building.

But prompt action meant the drums - full of waste diesel - were quickly removed. Sub-officer Bill Davies, at Bolton Central station, said: "This was a very fierce blaze which spread quickly. We used chemical protection suits just in case the drums contained toxic substances. There was bad damage, but it could have been much worse."

The roof and workshop were severely damaged in the attack. Other rooms were badly smoke-damaged.

One of the directors, Marcus Aspinall, said it was the fourth time the factory had been hit in just six months.

As he surveyed the damage today he said: "We would like to see the person or persons caught. "There have been several fires in Horwich recently. Whether they are connected, I don't know."

Mr Aspinall said the blaze could have been far more serious, but for the prompt action of the fire crews.

He said: "They have tried to set fire to the building but the fire brigade got there in time to get it under control.

"It doesn't look too major at the moment."

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