POLICE are investigating after firebugs set an empty church alight last night. Firefighters say that four small fires had been started in St Peter's Methodist Church in Daubhill.

The church, which is in the process of being sold, suffered only superficial damage.

Bolton Circuit steward Graham Brodrick was at the scene, he said: "Kids broke in through the boarded up windows and set several fires. Luckily one could be seen through the front door or it could have been a lot worse. If nobody had spotted it the whole church could have burnt down."