ARSONISTS are putting the lives of firefighters in danger, it was claimed, following a blaze at a derelict warehouse.

Firefighters were called to the empty Metal Box building in Chewmoor Lane, Westhoughton, at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

As many as 40 firefighters were called to the scene at the height of the blaze, after stations were inundated with calls from nearby residents.

The fire was brought under control at 11pm, but crews were forced to stay on site all night to deal with burning embers and to make sure the building was safe.

Watch commander, Paul Abbott, of Leigh fire station, said: "These youths seem to think nothing of setting fire to buildings.

"But they are endangering firefighters' lives because at the end of the day they are the ones who have to go into these buildings.

"As well as that, these firefighters could be needed to deal with incidents elsewhere, but are tied up because of malicious fires."