FIREFIGHTERS managed to prevent a blaze at the historic Mere Hall in the early hours of this morning.

At 5.10am on Sunday, a crew from Bolton Central Fire Station were called to the early-Victorian listed building, in Merehall Street, after a fire was started on the stone steps outside the entrance.

A fire service spokesman confirmed that a group of youths were seen fleeing the area as the fire engine arrived, and are suspected to have started the blaze.

The spokesman added: "Fortunately, it was just a small fire on some stone steps in the doorway and we were able to put it out before it spread to the building itself. If it had spread to the door, then it could have been much more serious."

The Grade II listed mansion was bequeathed to the town of Bolton in 1890 by its then owner JP Thomasson and was turned into a popular museum and library.

In 1996, the hall was given a £1 million refurbishment after years of neglect and Bolton Registrar Office moved there from Paderborn House in the centre of town. However, that service is due to move to the refurbished Bolton Town Hall in the new year.

Council chiefs have given assurances that the famous mansion will not be knocked down once the move takes place.