ARSONISTS broke into a flat and started three separate fires inside.

Firefighters were called to the Welcome Store at the junction of Long Lane and Radcliffe Road in Darcy Lever at 5.20am yesterday.

Smoke was billowing from the windows of the flat above the convenience store when crews arrived.

Watch Commander Paul Norris said: “We discovered three separate fires in the hallway, kitchen and bathroom.

“It looked like a flammable liquid had been used.”

Nobody was in the flat at the time because it is being renovated.