£10,000 reward to catch arsonist
3:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in News
BOSSES at a recycling company have offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of arsonists who caused a huge blaze in a warehouse.
Armstrongs Environmental Services in Chorley New Road, Horwich, was targeted between 11pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday.
Several hundred tonnes of plastic were set on fire.
It is likely to cause days of disruption in the area, including road closures between Victoria Road and Ramsbottom Road.
At the height of the blaze 60 firefighters battled to bring it under control and crews are expected to be at the site for up to a week.
Joe Major, company director, said: “Firstly, Armstrong would like to apologise to the residents of Horwich and the surrounding villages for any inconvenience this incident has caused.
“This is now the third time Armstrongs have been targeted in this way.
“We are requesting the help and assistance of the local residents to stop those responsible before someone gets hurt or, even worse, killed.
“Armstrongs is offering a reward of £10,000 to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of those involved in this horrific Crime.
“We successfully recycle large amounts of waste each year, which is why when we are targeted in this way, it angers and upsets our immediate neighbours and of course our own workforce.
“We would like to put an end to this hence the reason for offering a substantial reward.”
Police have now launched an arson investigation into the fire and are appealing for information. Det Con Wayne Hagan, of Bolton CID, said: “This fire is being treated as malicious and we are keen for anyone with information to get in touch.
“It has caused a lot of disruption locally and caused massive inconvenience for residents and the firm itself.
“I want to reassure the community we are doing all we can to catch the perpetrators.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 856 2161 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The fire service is continuing to investigate the cause of a huge blaze at J Dickinson and Sons in Blackrod last month. work is ongoing to establish what happened at the site in Station Road on August 3, when a building full of waste materials set alight.
